The Seahawks are hoping to get Devon Witherspoon back following a two-game absence due to a hip pointer injury, and while the rookie cornerback's status for Week 17 is still uncertain, he's moving around well to start the week.
"He's got a little spark to him today," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said following Wednesday's walkthrough. "A little spark. When he's firing, you know it. He was bouncing around pretty good in the walkthrough, we'll see what happens in practice today. This is the first time really he's been able to show a little bit of something getting back on the field. He has wanted to and tried to. It was fun watching him out there."
Another big piece of Seattle's secondary to miss the last two games is safety Jamal Adams, who has been held out with a knee injury. Adams will return to practice, Carroll said, but it's still not known if he'll play in Sunday's game against the Steelers.
"He was in walkthrough also bouncing around," Carroll said. "He's going to practice today. It's the first time in a while we got a chance to get him out, he's had a good break, and we'll see what that means. I can't conclude anything about that, but I'm happy for him, I know he's pumped up to be back out there."
If Adams does return for Sunday's game, the Seahawks will have a decision to make at safety given how well Julian Love has played since taking over an every-down role. The Seahawks use three safeties frequently enough that the trio of Adams, Love and Quandre Diggs all can be on the field together, but asked if Adams would return to a starting role, Carroll said, "We'll see. You'll have to wait and see on that."
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who left Sunday's win over the Titans with an ankle injury, is "pretty sore," Carroll said. "So we've got to wait and see what happens."
Guard Damien Lewis is doing OK, Carroll said, despite limping off with the aid of an athletic trainer late in Sunday's game.
Offensive lineman Jason Peters also came out of the game with an injury.
"He had a plantar fascia injury," Carroll said. "He's getting around OK, he's getting around all right. I don't know how it's going to hold him back, we've got to wait."
The Seahawks could be adding some offensive line depth in the near future, as guard Phil Haynes is eligible to come off injured reserve this week. Haynes wasn't back for Wednesday's practice, but Carroll said the hope is to get him back on the field soon.
"He's not going today," Carroll said. "We're going to go a day at a time. We would like to get him available as soon as possible, so we're working on it. We're not quite there yet."
As for quarterback Geno Smith, who returned Sunday following a two-game absence, Carroll said Smith came out of the game in good health.
"He came out great, and he looked terrific today," Carroll said. "So he's back and going, we're over the hump."
On receiver Dee Eskridge, who has been out since Seattle's Week 12 game against the 49ers with a rib injury, Carroll said, "We know a little bit more about his injury, something else kind of showed and surfaced, so we'll be dealing with that."
The Seahawks and Steelers face off on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Steelers.
Franco Harris of the Steelers carried for short yardaga in first quarter action Sunday, Dec. 4, 1977 past Seattle Seahawks Bob Lurtsema (70). Harris rushed for more than 100 yards for the twenty-eight time in his career, only two other players have done it more often. Harris also went over the 1000 yard mark for the year. (AP Photo)
Steelers Franco Harris (32) gets past Seahawks Bill Gregory (77) for Pittsburgh's third touchdown of the game, Sept. 11, 1978. The Steelers won the game in Pittsburgh, 21-10. (AP Photo/R.C. Greenawalt)
Steve Largent of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball during game action against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Nov. 8, 1981. (AP Photo)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris (32) is tackled for no gain by Seattle Seahawk conerback Keith Simpson (42) in the first quarter of their National Football League game in the Seattle Kingdome, Nov. 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Franco Harris (32) of the Pittsburgh Steelers slides into the end zone for six points after being hits by Kenny Easley (45) and Kerry Justin of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter of their game in Seattle, Wash., Oct. 23, 1983. Harris went nine yards for the score. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth (55) sets for play during a 13-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 6, 1987 at The Kingdome in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Rick Mirer (3) is sacked for a seven-yard-loss by Kevin Henry (76) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Wash., Sunday, Dec. 26, 1993. (AP Photos/Gary Stewart)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive center Dermontti Dawson (63) looks up from the field with his helmet up during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 25, 1994 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 30-13. (AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
Seattle Seahawks punt returner Charlie Rogers (31) evades Pittsburgh Steelers' John Fiala as he runs the Josh Miller punt back for a touchdown in the first quarter in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999. Steelers Dewayne Washington (20) Orpheus Roye, (71) Kevin Henry (76) and Carlos Emmons (51) watch from the sidelines. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander celebrates as he runs off the field after the 23-16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Seattle Sunday Nov. 2, 2003. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Isaiah Kacyvenski, left, and J.P. Darche (52) bring down Pittsburgh Steelers' Antwaan Randle El during a punt return as Seahawks' Orlando Huff (57) comes in on the play in the fourth quarter Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in Seattle. The Seahawks won, 23-16. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens (86) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter of the Super Bowl XL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis (36) is tackled during the third quarter of play against the Seattle Seahawks at the Super Bowl XL football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dives in for a one-yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter of play at the Super Bowl XL football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Pittsburgh Steelers line backer James Farrior (51) tackles Seattle Seahawks tight end Marcus Pollard (88) as Ryan Clark (25) runs at the football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
