The Seahawks are starting their practice week a day earlier than usual so as to give players Christmas day off, and they should be getting some defensive reinforcements back on the practice field.
Because the NFL requires teams to put out practice reports Wednesday through Friday for a Sunday game, the Seahawks will not put out a practice report for Tuesday's work, but head coach Pete Carroll said that defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who has missed the past two games due to illness and a core-muscle injury, was going to practice, as would cornerback Shaquill Griffin, who has missed two games with a hamstring injury.
That doesn't guarantee those two will play on Sunday when the Seahawks host the 49ers with the NFC West title on the line, but it's a positive first step. Less clear is the status of safety Quandre Diggs, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury.
"It's going to be slow early in the week," Carroll said. "We're going to take it all the way to the end of the week and see how he responds. It's going to be slow. It's going to be later in the week before we know anything about him."
Left tackle Duane Brown won't play this week after having knee surgery Monday, but there is still hope he can return in the postseason at some point if the Seahawks keep their season going long enough.
"There were no setbacks, no surprises, but a very necessary cleanup that was needed," Carroll said of the surgery. "He's just a couple days out, he just got back here today I think, so we don't know a whole lot, but everything was reported to be exactly like they had anticipated and there were no surprises."
Carroll added that running back C.J. Prosise, who broke his arm on Sunday, will also need surgery. It is not yet known if Chris Carson will need surgery for his season-ending hip injury.
Asked about linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who played on Sunday following a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Carroll said, "He made it through. He's a little sore from the work. I won't know how he's doing until later in the week."
Left guard Mike Iupati missed part of last week's game with a stinger, though he was eventually able to return to the game, and Carroll said, "Mike's practicing today, he seems to be all right."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seattle Seahawks' Week 16 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Eye on the Hawks is presented by Western Washington Toyota Dealers.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson walks to the locker room at CenturyLink Field on Sunday morning before facing the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks long-snapper Tyler Ott stretches during early warmups.
Seahawks offensive lineman Ethan Pocic gets loose before the game.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith gets ready in the locker room.
Seahawks linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee arrives dressed for the holidays.
Early arriving 12s are fired up before the game.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Flowers works on technique with assistant coach Nick Sorensen.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf catches a pass during early warmups.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver Jaron Brown keep it loose during pregame.
Seahawks quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends gather on the field during early warmups.
12s arrived at CenturyLink Field celebrating the holidays and a home Seahawks game.
Seahawks defensive end L.J. Collier gets ready in the locker room.
Seahawks offensive linemen walk from the locker room to the field before the game.
Linebacker and defensive captain Bobby Wagner accepts the Seahawks Man of the Year award from team president Chuck Arnold and general manager John Schneider before the game.
Seahawks players surround captain Bobby Wagner as he fires up the team before they leave the locker room to face the Cardinals.
Members of the Seahawks defense including Bradley McDougald, Lano Hill and Mychal Kendricks confer on the sidelines.
Seahawks defensive end Ziggy Ansah sported cleats featuring "The Grinch".
Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer on the sidelines during the game against the Cardinals.
Seahawks defensive end Rasheem Green deflects a pass throw by Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson rolls out and looks for receivers.
Seahawks running back Chris Carson darts through an opening on the team's opening drive of the game.
Seahawks receiver Malik Turner heads upfield in the first quarter.
Seattle receiver David Moore can't complete the catch on this pass in the end zone.
Seahawks fullback Nick Bellore scores on a pass from Russell Wilson to open the scoring.
Seahawks fullback Nick Bellore spikes the ball after his touchdown catch in the first quarter.
Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister finds running room after a catch in the first half.
12s show their holiday spirit as they root on the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner tackles Arizona's Christian Kirk.
The Seahawks Dancers performed in holiday attire in the final game before Christmas.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner yells after a third down stop.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson punts in the second quarter.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Flowers defends a pass intended for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
At halftime, defensive line coach Clint Hurtt talks to players on the defensive unit.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson looks for an open receiver.
Seahawks Legend Shawn Springs was honored during a break in the action. Springs played seven seasons for the Seahawks between 1997-2003.
Seahawks running back Travis Homer saw extended action due to injuries to Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise.
Seahawks cornerback Akeem King knocks a pass away from Arizona tight end Darrell Daniels.
Seattle's Rasheem Green blocks a field goal attempt by Arizona's Zane Gonzalez.
Seahawks safety Marquise Blair returns a blocked field goal by teammate Rasheem Green in the third quarter.
Seahawks running back Travis Homer looks for the end zone but is pushed out-of-bounds.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers converts a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Branden Jackson hits Arizona's Kenyan Drake in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson throws a pass to tight end Jacob Hollister in the fourth quarter.
12s in the south end zone try to rally the defense late in the game.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll looks up at the scoreboard late in the game.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett is sandwiched between two Arizona defenders and the pass falls incomplete.
After the game, quarterbacks Brett Hundley and Russell Wilson exchange greetings at midfield. Before signing with Arizona, Hundley backed up Wilson in Seattle and the two maintain a friendship.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks his team in the locker room after the 27-13 loss to the Cardinals.
