RENTON — Bobby Wagner uttered six words that should have Seattle Seahawks fans feeling much better about Thursday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers:
“I feel good. I’ll be ready.”
Seattle’s starting middle linebacker and defensive captain is set to return to the field when the Seahawks head to San Francisco on Thursday.
Wagner sat out Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers because of a strained pectoral muscle suffered the previous week against the Cincinnati Bengals. Wagner said he originally suffered the injury during the first quarter, then he missed two plays in the fourth quarter after aggravating it, though he later returned to finish out the game.
Wagner didn’t practice last week and was a game-time decision for Seattle’s game against the Panthers, but was inactive.
“I did everything I could to try and get back and play, but the doctors wouldn’t clear me, so I had to sit,” Wagner said. “I felt like I worked really hard last week to be able to get back to play, but they felt that with the type of injury I had there was the possibility of completely tearing what I hurt. They didn’t want to take that chance.”
The extra rest seems to have done the trick for Wagner, though when asked whether there was still some lingering issue or whether the injury had healed completely he answered with a simple, “I’ll be ready for the game.” Wagner was a full participant in practice Tuesday.
Wagner’s return comes at a time when it’s needed most. Not only are the Seahawks coming off allowing another fourth-quarter lead to slip away, Carolina scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute because a communication breakdown caused members of the defense to be in different coverages.
The middle linebacker is responsible for calling out the defenses and keeping everything organized, and Wagner vowed the communication breakdowns will not recur.
“We definitely have some things to improve on,” said Wagner, who could only watch helplessly from the sidelines as Cam Newton hit a wide-open Greg Olsen for the game-winning 26-yard touchdown pass Sunday. “I definitely will make sure there is no miscommunication and I will do my job to make sure everybody gets the call.”
Coleman reinstated, Jeanpierre re-signed
Seattle made a handful of roster moves Tuesday, highlighted by the reinstatement of fullback Derrick Coleman from suspension and the re-signing of center Lemuel Jeanpierre.
Coleman was suspended indefinitely by the team last week after being involved in a two-car accident in Bellevue that resulted in his arrest for suspicion of vehicular assault and hit and run. Coleman was later released from jail without being charged, though the investigation is ongoing. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Coleman’s suspension was being lifted, though he did not say exactly when that would happen.
The Seahawks also brought Jeanpierre back into the fold. Jeanpierre, who spent the past five seasons with Seattle, was expected to take over for the traded Max Unger as the team’s starting center this season. However, he was a surprise cut when the team had to get its roster down to 75 players during the preseason.
To make room on the 53-man roster the Seahawks waived cornerback Crezdon Butler and placed linebacker Brock Coyle on injured reserve with the designation to return. Butler was signed last week to provide depth at a cornerback position ravaged by injuries, but his presence is no longer necessary with Tye Smith returning from his hip injury this week. Coyle, who missed Sunday’s game because of knee soreness, won’t be eligible to return for eight weeks.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
