Notes and injury updates from Pete Carroll’s Thursday press conference

The Seahawks held their last practice of the week—they’ll have what would be their usual Saturday walk-through on Friday—and did so as a pretty healthy team. In all five players who missed Seattle’s last regular season game are expected back for Saturday’s game: C Max Unger, WR Jermaine Kearse, CB Tharold Simon, DE Demarcus Dobbs and TE Cooper Helfet.

“Max is in great shape, he’s ready to go. We’re excited about that,” Carroll said of Unger.

Carroll isn’t worried about any rust or conditioning issues even though Unger missed the final six games of the season, meaning he hasn’t seen game action since Nov. 16: “No, he looks great. All throughout the time he was rehabbing, he was working out and doing all the aerobic conditioning. He’s fine, he’ll be fine.”

The one injury question mark—S Jeron Johnson has already been ruled out—is TE Tony Moeaki, who injured his calf in Tuesday’s practice.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“We’re going to find out on game day,” Carroll said. “It’s a very slight strain, we’ll see what that means. Cooper Helfet’s ready to go if we need him.”

On Byron Maxwell, who missed Wednesday’s practice due to illness, Carroll said, “He’s fine. He was just ill.”

On WR Jermaine Kearse: “He’s good. He’s fine, he’s ready to go. He had a full week of practice.”

On DE Demarcus Dobbs, who is returning from an ankle injury and likely filling in for Jordan Hill, who went on injured reserve earlier in the week, Carroll said, “Everything worked out great in rehab, he’s fine. He was able to go and contribute, there’s no question he’s going for us.”

Asked about Johnson’s elbow injury, Carroll said, “He’s not able to go, not at all this week, not even in consideration. He had a real serious injury, and I don’t know how long it’s going to take. They say that he’ll pop back really quickly once it turns the corner, but he hasn’t done that.”

While the Seahawks are healthy, on a roll and 10.5-point favorites over the Panthers, Carroll said Carolina absolutely has his team’s attention: “The only place we’re heavy favorites is outside of here. That’s somebody else’s concern and gauge. We know we’re up against a very difficult opponent, they challenge us in man ways. We have great respect for their players and their coaches and the way they do things. We’ve had nothing but close games with these guys, we don’t need anymore understanding that that. Whatever the talk is on the outside is outside. This is a huge game to us, it’s a great championship matchup and we’re going for it, and the rest of that stuff doesn’t matter at all.”

You’ve probably heard a lot from Seattle’s defense about trust and how that’s been key to their turnaround. Here’s what Carroll said on that topic: “It’s absolutely paramount of importance. If you want to perform at the highest level as a group, you have to have chemistry, you have to feed off of one another, you have to have tremendous trust, not just in yourself but in those around you, or you’re questioning, you’re wondering if things are going to go the way you want them to go. These guys have worked really hard for a long time now to grow together, and we’ve done it kind of in stages. But they’ve come together where they absolutely believe in each other and they know who’s going to make the plays, and if a guy doesn’t, somebody will cover for him. They really believe that, and that’s what allows them to play so fast and to play with the conviction that they have. There was a time in this season, as there was a time last year, when we kind of lost track of that, and we kind of had to regain that understanding and the focus and the importance of it. Right now they’re right in the middle of it, and hopefully we can go play like that again this weekend.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Jackson High School's Kyle Peacocke hands the 2023 WIAA class 4A softball championship trophy to the team after their win in Richland, Wash., on Sat., May 27. (TJ Mullinax/for The Herald)
Prep state tournaments set to begin this week

Here’s a look at where local teams will open tournament play.

Snohomish sophomore Deyton Wheat (22) celebrates his go-ahead, three-run home run with senior Brayden Holscher (11) during the Panthers' 4-2 win against Monroe in a District 1 3A consolation game in Woodinville, Washington on May 17, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Brea Bursch / Snohomish Baseball)
Snohomish, Shorewood earn state baseball tourney berths

Panthers top Monroe 4-2, Stormrays blank Edmonds-Woodway 7-0 in District 1 3A consolation.

The Shorewood boys soccer team celebrates with their trophy after winning the District 1 3A title on May 17, 2025 at Shoreline Stadium. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Shorewood boys soccer storms to district three-peat

An early penalty lifts the Stormrays to a 1-0 win over Monroe in the title game.

File Photo: Stanwood senior Gavin Gehrman delivers a pitch during the Spartans' 8-3 win against Arlington in Stanwood, Washington on March 19, 2025. In Stanwood's 7-4 loss to Mount Vernon in the District 1 3A Championship on May 17, 2025, Gehrman went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Stanwood baseball slips in District 1 3A Championship

The Spartans’ early 3-0 lead crumbles as Mount Vernon wins 7-4 in comeback.

Weekend prep baseball roundup for May 16-17

Reese Logsdon leads Archbishop Murphy to state.

Weekend prep boys soccer roundup for May 16-17

Warriors, Wildcats, Scots advance to state.

Jackson’s Matea Lopez and Allie Thomsen leap in the air and high five during the 4A District 1 game against Lake Stevens on Friday, May 16, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Weekend prep softball roundup for May 16-17

Jackson takes third in bi-district tournament.

Weekend prep track and field roundup for May 15-17

Weekend prep track & field roundup for May 15-17: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers:… Continue reading

Scottie Scheffler celebrates with his caddie, Ted Scott, on the 18th green after winning the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Scottie Scheffler digs deep, dominates PGA Championship

The coronation of Scottie Scheffler had taken an unexpected detour,… Continue reading

Stanwood players cheer as pitcher Addi Anderson lifts the 3A District 1 Championship trophy in the air after beating Sedro-Woolley for the title on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Stanwood softball ekes out District 1 3A title

The Spartans defeat top seed Sedro-Woolley 2-1 in 10 innings thanks to Addi Anderson’s gem.

Snohomish’s Abby Edwards yells after beating Edmonds-Woodway in the 3A District 1 consolation game on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish softball punches state tournament ticket

The Panthers stay hot after slow start to season with 12-2 win against Edmonds-Woodway.

Lake Stevens shortstop Aspen Alexander nearly makes a sliding play in the field during a playoff loss to Bothell on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep baseball roundup for Thursday, May 15

Lake Stevens clinches first state berth in eight years.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.