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Three Injury-Related Takeaways From Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll's Monday Press Conference

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll shared personnel updates on C.J. Prosise, Troymaine Pope, Thomas Rawls, Earl Thomas, DeShawn Shead, Michael Bennett and more at his Monday press conference.

Pete Carroll used much of his Monday afternoon press conference at Virginia Mason Athletic Center to discuss the injuries his team sustained in its Week 11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Here's a look at what the Seahawks head coach had to say:

1. C.J. Prosise Has Fractured Scapula; Troymaine Pope Has "Legitimate High-Ankle Sprain"

Carroll said after Sunday's win that C.J. Prosise suffered a scapula injury against Philadelphia, noting on the radio Monday morning that the rookie running back will be "hurt for some time." On Monday afternoon, Carroll confirmed that Prosise's scapula was fractured, and while he will avoid surgery to his shoulder -- "we've just got to wait through it and see how it goes," Carroll said -- it will take a couple weeks before the Seahawks will know whether or not Prosise will be able to return this season.

"We don't know anything about that right now," Carroll said. "We're not going to know that for a couple weeks, how it's turning."

With Prosise going down and second-year pro Thomas Rawls seeing his first action since suffering a fibula injury in Week 2, Troymaine Pope was set to finish the fourth quarter as Seattle's running back against Philadelphia, but the rookie who was promoted off the practice squad last week got hit with what Carroll called a "legitimate high-ankle sprain." Rawls, meanwhile, came out of the week "banged up," but should be ready to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend.

"He threw his body around. He was like in a train wreck," Carroll said of Rawls, who finished with 14 carries for 57 yards and added three catches for 31 yards. "But he'll be taken care of this week, we'll get him back, and really excited to see him play for us. He played great and he looked terrific. A little bit out of control a couple times, but he's going to be on the verge of out of control if he's at his best anyway, so that's just fine with us. But he is banged up and we'll look to get him back by Sunday."

With Prosise and Pope hurt, Carroll said practice squad running back George Farmer could "possibly" be an option to add depth to the position group: "He's a prospect to do that," is what Carroll said when asked if Farmer could help the Seahawks this week. Alex Collins is also expected to be in the mix at Tampa Bay, and Carroll said the rookie fifth-round pick out of Arkansas "has made a lot of progress" since the early part of the season.

"I think Alex has done some marvelous stuff since we were in camp," Carroll said of the 22-year-old Collins, who's listed at 5-foot-10 and 217 pounds. "He's kind of restructured his body a little bit, he's got a different level of conditioning that we've seen him change. Lost some weight, trimmed down, practices with great intensity every day, so he's at his best. He's ready to go. He's really healthy and ready for the challenge."

Collins was a healthy scratch from this past weekend's win over the Eagles, but in the six games he's suited up he's had 10 carries for 19 yards and a 2-yard touchdown run to go along with three catches for 28 yards.

"I really feel comfortable with him fitting into the offense," Carroll added of Collins. "He can do all of our stuff, he can play third down, first down, short yardage, you saw him run down by the goal line well earlier in the year, so he'll just figure in."

2. Hamstring Strains For Earl Thomas & DeShawn Shead: "We're Going To Have To Wait And See How It Goes"

Carroll confirmed what he said on the radio Monday morning in that free safety Earl Thomas and cornerback DeShawn Shead suffered first-degree hamstring strains against the Eagles. 

"Both those guys have hamstring strains, kind of first-degree strains that we're going to have to wait and see how it goes, how they handle it, and whether or not they're able to get back [this week]," Carroll said. "We don't know that right now."

Earlier Monday, Carroll said a normal timeline for such injuries is "usually 10-14 days," but noted that Thomas and Shead are anything but normal.

"That's what normal hamstrings are," Carroll said. "... But those guys are rare guys and we'll see what happens. Let's see how they adapt."

Steven Terrell filled in at free safety for Thomas and nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane shifted outside to fill Shead's position while Neiko Thorpe saw time as the team's third cornerback. Carroll wouldn't confirm whether or not those same players would fill those same roles should Thomas and Shead not be able to suit up against Tampa Bay, but he did come away impressed with the team's depth in the secondary. 

"Both were very solid, really assignment-sound, technique-sound, in the right spots throughout," Carroll said of Terrell and Thorpe. "They did a good job, which is a really good sign for us moving forward in the event that we have those guys playing. Jeremy played a lot more outside too and he did a good job, so this was a good testament to our depth and hopefully when those guys get their shot they'll continue. I feel very positive that if they play, they'll play well."

3. Michael Bennett's "Going To See How Far He Can Take It"

Defensive end Michael Bennett has missed the Seahawks' past four games while rehabbing a knee that he had surgery on. Carroll said the team's sack leader from a year ago is hopeful to make it back in time for this week's game against the Buccaneers.

"We're going to see what happens," Carroll said. "He's going to see how far he can take it. We'll find out. The trainers and doctors are open for if he can make it back, he can play. So we'll see if he's able to do that."

Extra Points

  • George Fant left Sunday's game against the Eagles with a shoulder injury, but was able to return and finish out the game. Carroll said it looks like the rookie left tackle made it out of the game OK. "He's responded really well, but we've got to wait and see a little bit."
  • Carroll also commented on the status of wide receiver Tanner McEvoy (toe), linebacker Brock Coyle (foot), and tight end Luke Willson: "Tanner's got a great toe sprain that he's dealing with and Brock's got a sprained foot that he's dealing with. Luke had a little something that tweaked. All of them look like they'll be all right. We'll have to wait and see, though."

Get close to the Seahawks with these Sideline shots from Week 11 at CenturyLink Field.

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