While the most significant injury to come out of Sunday's game was Jimmy Graham’s season-ending knee injury, the injury news wasn't all bad for the Seahawks a day after their 39-30 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For starters, the Seahawks received positive news before the game even started, with linebacker Bruce Irvin surprising trainers and coaches with his pregame workout to the point that he was able to play after being listed as doubtful for the game.

"That was a big surprise," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday. "We didn't know that he would make it. It was one of those things—we'll tell you, 'At game-time,' you know? And you always think we're making that up, I think. But that was exactly one of those time where he went out there and ran really well and surprised himself, surprised the coaches and the trainers, so we had to make a different decision. We had anticipated that he probably wouldn't be able to go, but he looked great and felt great, so we went with him and played him on a limited basis."

Irvin, who usually plays nearly every snap, splitting time between linebacker and defensive end, was limited to 33 plays out of 80 on Sunday, primarily only playing in a pass-rushing role while Mike Morgan filled in at strongside linebacker, but his workload should increase this week.

"He did OK," Carroll said, "So he'll come back this week and be ready to go."

In addition to getting a healthier Irvin back this week, the Seahawks should have receiver Paul Richardson available as well. Richardson, who returned from the physically unable to perform list for Seattle's Week 10 game against Arizona, has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, but should return to practice Wednesday.

"He's got a great shot," Carroll said. "We're counting on him coming back and practicing, at least in limited fashion Wednesday just to prove it, but we think he might be full-go on Wednesday. He really feels great, and we should have him back."

Cornerback Jeremy Lane, who was activated off the PUP list on Saturday, played more than expected because of an ankle injury to Marcus Burley, but while sore from that heavy work load, Lane came out of the game OK otherwise.

"He's pretty sore today," Carroll said, "He rolled all of fall camp and preseason games and all of that into one game. I think he played 30-something plays, which was more than we had anticipated going in and had hoped for. So he's feeling it a little bit today, but he'll be all right. He didn't get hurt or anything."

As for Burley, who moved into the nickel role with DeShawn Shead taking over at right cornerback, Carroll said, "He has a minor sprained ankle. He's got a chance to get back."

Two players whose statuses are more uncertain, however, are defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs and fullback Will Tukuafu, who both will have to go through the league's concussion protocol before returning to action.

"Both those guys are in the protocol," Carroll said. "They're in that, and we'll have to wait and see. We'll be very careful with these guys. I can't tell you anything until we get to Wednesday when we know something."

With Dobbs potentially unavailable, and with Jordan Hill dealing with a toe injury—Hill was able to finish the game—the Seahawks could turn to A.J. Francis, who was just re-signed off the practice squad on Monday when Graham was placed on injured reserve, to help bolster D-line depth.

"Yeah, A.J. would go," Carroll said of Francis filling in for Dobbs. "We need to see the health in general of the group; Jordan Hill got banged up too, so we need to see how he does this week. He hurt his toe."

There is still no timeline for Marshawn Lynch's return other than the possible 3-to-4 week range Carroll gave last week, but Carroll said the surgery performed last week in Philadelphia went well.

"Reports are that everything has gone really well," Carroll said. "That doesn't mean that we know what it's going to project at the other end, but the work that he's done back there as we've heard and has been reported is that everything's going fine and is on schedule."

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