RENTON — DeShawn Shead is going to remain the Seattle Seahawks starting right cornerback for the foreseeable future.
As he did Sunday following the 39-30 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Pete Carroll praised the part-time safety and nickel back Monday for playing well amid an aerial bombardment by Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ deep-running receivers.
“We feel pretty good about DeShawn coming back again this week,” the coach said.
Shead broke up three deep passes — which is about three more than Cary Williams had been breaking up per game — and four passes total on Sunday. Williams has four breakups for the season.
Carroll likes what Shead brings in coverage and tackling.
Williams, Seattle’s $18 million free-agent signing in March to replace departed free agent Byron Maxwell, went from starter into a sweat suit on the sidelines Sunday. He was inactive for the game.
Asked what Williams’ role now is, the coach said tepidly: “He’s trying to fight for playing time.”
Lynch ‘on schedule’
Carroll was vague on how long running back Marshawn Lynch will remain out but said “everything is on schedule” and going well following Lynch’s abdominal surgery in Philadelphia Wednesday.
Lynch stayed back East through week’s end to begin his rehabilitation, which will now shift to team headquarters. The original estimate the coach gave for a possible return for the league’s leading rusher since 2011 was perhaps three or four weeks, which could be for the Dec. 13 game at Baltimore or Dec. 20 against Cleveland. But, again, the Seahawks aren’t saying anything new about when Lynch might be back.
Irvin was a surprise
Starting outside linebacker Bruce Irvin was a “surprise,” in Carroll’s word, in playing 33 of the defense’s 80 snaps Sunday. Irvin had been doubtful to play after missing the previous week’s win over San Francisco with a sprained knee ligament. But he ran better than he had in weeks during Seattle’s pregame warmups Sunday, so in he went first as a nickel pass rusher and then more on early downs as the game went on.
Irvin is on track to start at Minnesota. Veteran Mike Morgan had made his first two starts in five years the last two weeks for him.
Extra points
The Seahawks should have wide receiver Paul Richardson full go at practice on Wednesday and returning from his hamstring injury for Sunday’s game, Carroll said. The second-round draft choice in 2014 has played in one half of one game this season, getting hurt on his only target and catch, a 40-yard sprint down the sidelines Nov. 15 against Arizona. That was three games ago. … Carroll said defensive back Marcus Burley has a “minor” sprained ankle and may play Sunday at Minnesota.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
