Seahawks notebook: Bennett not angry about injury in first meeting with Falcons

Published 6:30 pm Tuesday, January 10, 2017

RENTON — Michael Bennett says he isn’t harboring any anger toward Jake Matthews.

Bennett, Seattle’s Pro Bowl defensive end, suffered a knee injury while being cut blocked by Matthews when the Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons faced one another on Oct. 16 at CenturyLink Field, a game won by Seattle 26-24.

But when the teams meet again Saturday at the Georgia Dome in the divisional playoffs, Bennett said he won’t be looking for revenge.

“I’m looking forward to going against anybody this time of year,” Bennett responded Tuesday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center when asked if he was looking forward to facing Matthews. “This time of year is always a great time, you get out there and play the game — there’s a whole bunch of great players who are at home right now who wish they could be in our situation. So every time you get out there and get a chance to play in the playoffs you cherish that moment.”

The play in question happened during the third quarter of the regular-season matchup between the Seahawks and Falcons. Matthews went to block Bennett low, catching Bennett on the right knee and pushing the knee back. Bennett left the game, and although he later returned to the sidelines he did not go back into the game. After the game Bennett talked about how he thought it was a dirty play by Matthews.

Bennett played the following week in Seattle’s 6-6 tie against the Arizona Cardinals, but he sat out the following week’s 25-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and the week following the Saints game Bennett underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee to repair cartilage damage. Bennett ended up missing four more games following the surgery.

Yet Bennett, who’s never been shy about voicing his feelings, had no words of anger for Matthews on Tuesday.

“I don’t have many reasons to be angry these days,” Bennett said when asked if his anger had dissipated. “I just want to go out there and play a great game. The playoffs, you just want to go out there and win the game, that’s what it really is about.

“My zen is an everyday practice,” Bennett added. “It’s getting there. My wife would tell you I’m getting better.”

Prosise update

C.J. Prosise returned to practice for the Seahawks on Tuesday, but it remains to be seen whether the rookie running back will be ready for Saturday’s game against the Falcons.

Prosise has been out ever since suffering a broken scapula in his left shoulder during Seattle’s 26-15 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 20. At that point Prosise was emerging as a legitimate threat in the Seahawks’ offense, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield.

The Seahawks are hoping to get that weapon back in time to face Atlanta, but Seattle coach Pete Carroll cautioned Tuesday that it wasn’t a sure thing.

“He’s going to work through the week,” Carroll said of Prosise. “He was out there in the walkthrough today, and we’ll get to practice this afternoon and see what he can do. I really don’t have anything to forecast for you at this point, we need to get some more information.

“He’s going to have to go full speed and let it rip,” Carroll added about Prosise’s performances in practice. “If he’s holding back he won’t play.”

Carroll also said it is not known whether defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, who missed last Saturday’s 26-6 victory over the Detroit Lions in the wild-card round because of a concussion, will be able to return for the game against the Falcons.

Thomas on sideline

The Seahawks had a familiar face on the sidelines for the game against Detroit as free safety Earl Thomas made his first appearance with the team since suffering his season-ending broken leg against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 4. Thomas could be seen on the field before the game sporting crutches.

“It was great to have him there,” Carroll said. “He came to the meeting the night before and participated a little bit. It’s just fun to have him around, he’s just one of the guys, one of us.”

Carroll did not know if Thomas would travel with the team to Saturday’s game.

For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.