Seahawks notebook: Bracing for inclement weather
Dec 13, 2013, 2:44 PM | Updated: 2:47 pm
By Danny O’Neil
RENTON – There were two things worth noting from Friday’s practice, the Seahawks’ last workout before leaving for New York.
1) Who was practicing: Tight end Zach Miller was back on the field after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday because of sore ribs. Center Max Unger also practiced, indicating the likelihood both will play.
2) Where the Seahawks were practicing: They held their final practice of the week outdoors Friday despite a slight mist, a nod to the possibility they will be playing in inclement conditions Sunday at Met Life Stadium.
The forecast calls for sub-freezing temperatures with the possibility of snow on Saturday and more precipitation Sunday. With that in mind, coach Pete Carroll held Friday’s workout outdoors instead of in the team’s indoor practice facility.
“The field was OK for us today,” Carroll said. “It has been frozen so the fact we got a chance to get out there is good. Little bit of mist and all that. Not quite like it’s going to be in New York, but it’s good.”
The running game is already the central emphasis for the Seahawks’ offense, but if the weather is poor, it could become an even larger percentage of their playcalls.
“This is the kind of potential conditions it could be very important,” Carroll said. “There’s no question that the ball is really the big issue when the weather is bad.”
Harvin out again
Wide receiver Percy Harvin was officially declared out for Sunday’s game after he wasn’t able to practice this week. In fact, Carroll didn’t sound too encouraged about Harvin being available next week, either.
Harvin has played in only one game this season, Seattle’s Nov. 17 win over Minnesota. He was on the field for 16 offensive snaps and returned one kickoff, but has been out since then because of soreness in the surgically repaired hip that kept him out the first 10 games of the season.
“It’s looking like it’s going to be a bit before we get it right,” Carroll said after Friday’s practice. “He’s doing a ton of stuff to get back, but it hasn’t just turned the corner. So we’ll just keep taking the time it takes to get it right.”
Cornerback Brandon Browner and linebacker K.J. Wright – who underwent foot surgery earlier this week – were also declared out.
The Giants announced they will be missing defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder), safety Cooper Taylor (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Webster (ankle).
Notes
• DL Tony McDaniel did not practice Friday because of illness, but is expected to be available for Sunday’s game.
• CB Tharold Simon and DL Greg Scruggs are out for the year after being moved to the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) injured-reserve list. Both started the regular season on the PUP list, Simon because of a foot injury and Scruggs as he recovered from knee surgery.
The two had been practicing the past few weeks with the team as allowed under the rules, but Seattle was approaching the deadline to either add them to the 53-man roster or place them on PUP-injured reserve, thereby ending their season.
