On Monday morning, two days after the Seahawks' 31-17 divisional-round win over the Carolina Panthers, head coach Pete Carroll joined the team's flagship radio station 710 ESPN Seattle for a conversation with Brock Huard and Mike Salk.
Here are three injury updates from Carroll's Monday segment on "Brock and Salk":
1. Max Unger "Looks To Be OK"
In the final minutes of Saturday's win over the Panthers, Seahawks center Max Unger left the game with an ankle injury. Initially, Carroll said Unger was worried he had aggravated the same ankle that kept him out of the Seahawks' final six regular-season games. But Carroll said Unger appears to have dodged that bullet.
"He really got tangled up bad," said Carroll. "He was more concerned he thought it happened again, but it didn't. So he was very fortunate. But he could feel that stress go right to the spot that it hurt before.
"He actually felt pretty good the next day and looks to be OK."
2. Byron Maxwell's Status Uncertain For NFC Championship
Byron Maxwell's status for Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers is in question after the Seahawks cornerback was sidelined through portions of this past Saturday's game against Carolina with shortness of breath.
"He was real sick," said Carroll. "He's had a history of some chest stuff. He's had pneumonia before and all that. So he was uncomfortable and he couldn't catch his breath in normal fashion. He could play a play, but he didn't know if he could play a sequence."
Carroll admitted the club was a bit surprised Maxwell couldn't go on gameday after practicing well toward the end of last week.
"Hopefully, we'll get him back next week," said Carroll.
Second-year cornerback Tharold Simon got the start opposite All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman against the Panthers, recording five tackles in place of Maxwell.
UPDATE (1/12, 12:40 p.m. PT): During his Monday afternoon press conference, after meeting with Maxwell and team trainers, Carroll said Maxwell seems like he's recovered and should be OK for Sunday's matchup with the Packers.
3. ACL Injury To Keep Paul Richardson Out For Rest Of Postseason
Rookie wide receiver Paul Richardson suffered an ACL injury in the third quarter of this past Saturday's game against the Panthers after going up for a deep ball from quarterback Russell Wilson.
The team [confirmed the injury on Sunday night](/news/articles/article-1/Seahawks-wide-receiver-Paul-Richardson-suffers-ACL-injury/e10e47ac-0d7f-4a15-99ca-b19a2f809c1e "/news/articles/article-1/Seahawks-wide-receiver-Paul-Richardson-suffers-ACL-injury/e10e47ac-0d7f-4a15-99ca-b19a2f809c1e
Ctrl+Click to follow link") and on Monday Carroll announced the injury would keep Richardson out for the remainder of the Seahawks' postseason run.
"It's a heart breaker," said Carroll. "He's had such a great rookie season for us, contributed in such a big way, such a great kid. I mean anybody gets hurt, your heart goes out to them, but this is a guy that did a great job for his team. He did a great job. Really showed up and came through in a big way. He's going to have a long haul to get right now."
Richardson was the team's first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and had come on strong toward the end of the season. He finishes his first year in the League with 29 catches for 271 yards and a touchdown.
"He's been through it before, so that always helps," Carroll said, referring to the ACL injury Richardson suffered in college at Colorado. "But still, it's a heart breaker."
*UPDATE (1/12, 12:40 p.m. PT):With Richardson out, Carroll said B.J. Daniels would be promoted from the team's practice squad to the 53-man roster. In addition to serving as the team's third quarterback, Carroll said Daniels could contribute at running back, wide receiver, and on special teams. *
