K.J. Wright, the Seahawks linebacker who missed this past Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams because of a concussion he suffered the week prior, cleared the concussion protocol and returned to practice Wednesday, when he was listed as a full participant as Seattle started its work week with a walk-thru.

"He's cleared, yeah. It feels good, too. Let me tell you, it feels good to have those guys out there," Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said prior to Wednesday's practice when asked about the status of Wright and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner (hamstring), who was held out Wednesday. "Those guys have been just stalwarts for us for a long time and to get those guys back out there, it feels good."

Tight end Nick Vannett (shoulder), who was injured in this past weekend's game, was limited Wednesday, while linebacker D.J. Alexander (concussion), defensive tackle Nazair Jones (ankle), safety Bradley McDougald (knee), and defensive end Michael Bennett (knee) did not participate. 

On Bennett, who has been dealing with injury issues each week but still managed to start all 14 games this season, Carroll said: "He is holding up. He is dealing with issues every week that are keeping him from practicing on a regular basis, he's not been able to. … He can get through the walk-thrus, but he can't go and he's got a little swollen knee that continues to kind of pester him, but he can make it to gameday and play. Unfortunately, that's the way he's working through it. He's played a lot this year and he's handled it well, although he is banged up during the week and we get him to game time."

Carroll also discussed the status of two players continuing to work their way back from injury in running back Chris Carson and cornerback DeShawn Shead. Carson, who fractured his leg early in the season and is on injured reserve, did not practice Wednesday and is "day to day," Carroll said, noting "we'll see about tomorrow" when it comes to Carson's availability. Shead, meanwhile, begins his third week of practice with the team after starting the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

"This is his third week and this is a big week for him," Carroll said of Shead, one of the team's starting cornerbacks last season. "This is a chance to get back to full speed in everything that he's doing. His heart and his mind is there and he's working hard in practice, he's able to practice with us. He's just got to get back to full tempo and make sure that he's safe in that and solidly back. It's been a long haul for him. He has done everything. He's remarkably applied himself to this situation and he's really frustrated that he's not right there yet. He wants to be on the field this week, so we're just going day to day with him and we'll keep watching it."

Here's Wednesday's practice report for the Seahawks and their Week 16 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys:

Seattle Seahawks

Did Not Participate

LB D.J. Alexander (Concussion)

DT Nazair Jones (Ankle)

LB Bobby Wagner (Hamstring)

DE Michael Bennett (Knee)

S Bradley McDougald (Knee)

Limited Participation

TE Nick Vannett (Shoulder)

Full Participation

TE Jimmy Graham (Knee)

T Duane Brown (Ankle)

G Luke Joeckel (Knee)

LB K.J. Wright (Concussion)

Dallas Cowboys 

Did Not Participate

T La'el Collins (Back)

LB Anthony Hitchens (Knee)

DT David Irving (Concussion)

DE DeMarcus Lawrence (Back)

DE Benson Mayowa (Back)

T Tyron Smith (Back/Knee)

Limited Participation

WR Brice Butler (Foot)

DT Maliek Collins (Foot)

LB Sean Lee (Hamstring/Back)

CB Orlando Scandrick (Back)

Full Participation

LB Justin Durant (Concussion)