Following a shutout win over the Vikings, the Seahawks are back on the road in Week 14, heading to Atlanta for the second straight season. The Seahawks kicked off their practice week on Wednesday with three players back on the field after missing time on injured reserve, safety Julian Love, defensive tackle Jarran Reed and receiver Dareke Young.

More on those players making their way back, and other things we learned from Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald's Wednesday press conference.

1. The plan for Julian Love and Jarran Reed.

Love, who has played in only three games this season due to a hamstring injury, and Reed, who missed the past four games following surgery on a wrist and thumb injury, both were back to practice, but that does not guarantee they will play on Sunday in Atlanta. Whether they play this week or not, getting back to practice is a big step in the process.

"It's great," Macdonald said. "I know those guys have been working really hard. J-Reed was really just more of a function of letting it heal. I know Julian's working his tail off, I believe Dareke Young is a part of that crew as well. It'd be great to have them out there, we'll see how it goes. I know we only have a certain amount of time to activate them and we'll either do it this week or we'll do it another week."

Asked about Love's timeline, Macdonald said. "We have a plan for him this week in terms of how we're going to practice him every day, but we feel great about where he's at. I know he's really excited and we'll go from there on how we want to go into the weekend with how he's going to go. Let's say everything went perfectly to plan anytime you're coming off a stretch where you're not playing, you've got to have some sort of ramp back in, so that's how we're operating."

And on Reed, Macdonald said, "They're just on different timetables because we've got to test it out and see how everything feels, and part of the reasons we're in pads today is so we can get that work."

Tight end Eric Saubert is also eligible to come off injured reserve, but has not yet returned to practice.

"He's coming along strong, he really took a turn for the positive last week, that's a good thing," Macdonald said. "Excited about him coming along here."

2. Rashid Shaheed has "done a great job" in his first weeks with the Seahawks even if the stats don't yet show it.

The Seahawks added receiver Rashid Shaheed in a midseason trade with the Saints, acquiring a player who has become a significant part of their offense and the return game. And while Shaheed has not yet put up big numbers, Macdonald likes what he has seen so far.

"I think Shaheed's done a great job," he said. "I know we haven't gotten the ball to him as much as we want. But it's like our run game, just keep doing what you're doing. There's a lot of detail that has been getting caught up since he's walked in the door and so I think that'll allow him to create some more opportunities, but really pleased with how he's been since he got in the door."

On the return game, Macdonald said, "I thought he's been solid. There's a couple opportunities where we're a block away from feeling like we can take it. So, it's a team effort, let's make sure we're hitting the right angles. I think he's been decisive in catching the ball. I know we had the backed up catch the other day, but what I like about that situation, is he made a decision, he stuck to it, we've got to live with the consequences. But overall, he's been making some really good, good decisions."

3. Riq Woolen continues to impress his head coach.

Cornerback Riq Woolen had some up-and-down moments early in the season, including a few critical big plays allowed and penalties, and also missed a game due to a concussion. He also saw Josh Jobe move ahead of him in the starting lineup, but has still been playing a big role on defense, and has been playing at a very high level over the last several games.

"I want to make sure that we're giving him the proper credit on how he's played this year," Macdonald said. "He's the person that has done it every day and had the attitude that he's had, and that takes for everybody, not just Riq, but for me, for our coaches, for the rest of the guys on our team, you have to make a decision that you're going to have the intent that you have on a daily basis. Whether it's how you're going to prepare, how you're going to practice every day, and Riq's done that. I'm really proud of him and he's doing a tremendous job. He's had a great attitude, he's been a great teammate, so you do those things and you're practicing well, you're productive in practice, and now it starts to show up in games. That's the name of the game right there."

As for the rotation at cornerback involving Woolen and Jobe, who, thanks to the Seahawks playing a significant amount of dime (six defensive backs) have both playing more than half of Seattle's defensive snaps, Macdonald loves what he is seeing from both.

"I wish we could play with 12 guys and we'd just play all three all the time, but we can't," he said. "The guys have been incredibly unselfish. They understand what's going on and when they've gone in there, they've played really hard and played at a high level. It's been great for the team. I think it's actually good for them, they probably don't feel that, they want to play every play, but they are playing really good ball and they're putting good tape out there, so that's ultimately good for them."

4. Macdonald isn't focused on a tough NFC West battle this week.

Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Seahawks are going to be in a battle for the NFC West, which currently includes two 9-3 teams in Seattle and Los Angeles, as well as the 9-4 49ers. But as exciting as that finish is sure to be, Macdonald's only focus this week is on the Falcons, not the overall strength of the division.

"It's just like, all right, whatever," Macdonald said when asked about the combined success of the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers. "Let's go beat Atlanta."

5. Happy first birthday, Jack Macdonald.

In addition to preparing for a game this week, Macdonald and his wife, Stephanie, are also celebrating the first birthday of their son, Jack.

Macdonald was asked on Wednesday if being a father has changed the way he coaches, and said he feels like being coach first means his experience in that world affects his parenting more than the opposite.

"A lot of people are parents before they're coaches, I think I'm kind of late to the parenting things," he said. "So, I use my experience coaching to apply to Jack (Macdonald) rather than vice versa, which, I don't know, probably just my experience, but yeah, it's fun. I love seeing his mind, he was here yesterday, just walking around the weight room, it's a whole new world for him. I'm like, 'Man, I wish I knew what was going on in your mind.' It's probably so cool."