Seahawks head to playoffs with healthy roster

By Liz Mathews

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was the only player listed on Wednesday’s practice report with an injury. Lynch, limited in practice, is routinely given rest days for a nagging back issue but has yet to miss a game this season.

Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that the majority of the team is healthy and would be preparing this week to head to Washington, D.C. for Sunday’s wildcard matchup against the Redskins.

“We are very fortunate right now, we will have most everybody on the field today,” Carroll said.

Linebacker Leroy Hill returned to practice Wednesday as a full participant after missing last Sunday’s game against St. Louis. Hill had injured his hamstring the week before. Malcolm Smith started in Hill’s place against the Rams.

Cornerback Marcus Trufant appears to be on the mend as well. Trufant was active last Sunday for the first time since missing four games, sidelined for the month with a hamstring injury. Trufant was also a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

Wide receiver Sidney Rice, although active last Sunday, continues to nurse a knee injury and was a full-go to start the week.

In addition to a healthy roster, the Seahawks will have cornerback Brandon Browner available for Sunday’s game. Following a four-game suspension for the the use of performance enhancing drugs, Browner was activated to the 53-man roster on Monday and is now eligible to return to the facility and participate in all team activities.

“Getting Brandon Browner back is a big deal to us, he’s been a big part of what we’ve done here and he’s been a significant factor in the style that we play,” Carroll said. “So he comes back and we’ll see how he does. … It’s been a month, so we’ll see how rusty he is.”