Maxwell, Walters among seven Seahawks ruled out vs. Carolina

RENTON – The Seahawks began the week with availability issues and ended it with even more of them, their final injury report listing seven players as out for Sunday’s game against Carolina.

The recent addition to Seattle’s group of injured players is wide receiver/return specialist Bryan Walters, who won’t play due to a concussion he sustained on Wednesday.

Also ruled out is fullback Derrick Coleman, who recently underwent surgery after breaking a bone in his foot during pregame warmups in St. Louis, as well as five others who were previously injured: cornerback Byron Maxwell, linebacker Bobby Wagner, defensive tackle Jordan Hill, center Max Unger and tight end Zach Miller.

The good news for Seattle? Defensive end Michael Bennett is expected to play, returning to practice Friday after sitting out Thursday. He’s listed as probable along with tight end Luke Willson, who missed last week’s game but practiced all three days this week.

Also probable: cornerback Tharold Simon, strong safety Kam Chancellor, running back Marshawn Lynch, running back Robert Turbin and defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Everyone listed as probable was a full participant in practice Friday.

No one is listed as doubtful or questionable on Seattle’s injury report.

Simon will make his second consecutive start at right cornerback in place of Maxwell, while Turbin will again fill in for Coleman at fullback. Carroll said Doug Baldwin and Paul Richardson will handle the kickoff and punt-return duties in Walters’ absence, but he didn’t say which player will do what.

Carroll said he’s optimistic that Maxwell and Unger can return to practice next week. Maxwell missed Seattle’s last game with a calf strain while Unger has missed the last two with a foot strain.

Carroll said “it’s going to be a while” with Wagner, who is dealing with a turf toe injury that caused him to miss the last week. The team will have a better sense of Wagner’s timetable after he sees a doctor this weekend.

Carroll estimated Coleman’s recovery timetable at six weeks, saying the team hasn’t decided whether or not he’ll be placed on injured reserve.