"It's Going To Be Hard" For DeShawn Shead, Earl Thomas To Play This Week and More Injury Updates From Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll

Prior to his team taking the practice field on Wednesday afternoon at Renton's Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Pete Carroll shared injury updates on several Seahawks. Here's a look at what the Seattle head coach had to say: "It's Going To Be Hard" For DeShawn Shead, Earl Thomas To Play at Tampa Bay Cornerback DeShawn Shead and free safety Earl Thomas are each dealing with first-degree hamstring strains, with Shead's flaring up on the practice field last week and Thomas' stemming from the Seahawks' Week 11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Carroll was asked if it's doubtful the pair will play this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “I would think so," Carroll replied. "It’s going to be hard for those guys to make it back." Seeing more time in Shead and Thomas' absence this past week were Jeremy Lane, who shifted from his nickel cornerback spot to the outside opposite Richard Sherman, as well as Steven Terrell, who subbed in at free safety for Thomas, and Neiko Thorpe, who saw snaps as the team's third cornerback. Carroll said Terrell would step in again if Thomas can't go. "He’s got a mild hamstring strain, so we’re going to go slow with him this week, make sure we’re doing the right thing," Carroll said of Thomas before noting Shead's situation is similar. "We won’t rush him at all here.” Michael Bennett "Looks More Like He'll Be Ready To Go Next Week" Defensive end Michael Bennett has missed the Seahawks' past four games with a knee injury that he had surgery on. Bennett was hopeful to make it back in time to face the Buccaneers, but that's "going to be really hard," Carroll said. "He was really hopeful, but I think it’s going to be pretty tough, it’s going to be a big turnaround," Carroll said. "Looks more like he’ll be ready to go next week.” Thomas Rawls "Really Excited To Play Again" With C.J. Prosise and Troymaine Pope suffering injuries against the Eagles, Thomas Rawls saw more work than initially intended in what was the second-year running back's first action since hurting his leg in Week 2. While Carroll said Rawls "got banged up a little bit" against Philadelphia, he's expected to be ready to play against Tampa Bay. "He’s going to practice this week and we will look after him," Carroll said. "But I think in normal fashion he’s really excited to play again. It looks good.” Earlier this week Carroll referred to Rawls feeling "like in a train wreck" after carrying 14 times for 57 yards and catching three passes for 31 yards against the Eagles, but clarified Wednesday that Rawls had not sustained any new injuries. "He’s just getting hit for the first time in a long time," Carroll said. "He took some pretty good shots, delivered a couple himself.” Extra Points Carroll called Pope's injury a "legitimate high-ankle sprain" on Monday, but on Wednesday said the rookie running back has responded faster than normal, "I was just with him and he’s bouncing around pretty good. Shockingly for a high-ankle sprain he was bouncing around today. He’s had the sprain before in the same ankle and a lot of times those guys respond differently the second time around, which the trainers have always said that and he is doing just that. So we’ll see what that means, I can’t tell you how far he can go, but they’re really surprised that he’s doing as well as he is.” Linebacker Brock Coyle has a sprained foot, but Carroll said “he’s talking like he’s going to be fine and he’s moving around a little bit already today, so we’ll see. He should have a good chance to play." After missing the win against Philadelphia with a hamstring injury, linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis is expected to be available at Tampa Bay. “He’s back, yeah," Carroll said. "He will be back.” Linebacker Mike Morgan will be eligible to return from the team's injured reserve list next week. Carroll said: "Mike will be ready to go next week. He really could play this week. He’s ready. He could’ve played last week, so he’s in great shape. We’ll just have to wait it out.”

"It's Going To Be Hard" For DeShawn Shead, Earl Thomas To Play This Week and More Injury Updates From Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll updates the injury status of Michael Bennett, DeShawn Shead, Earl Thomas and more.