Seahawks notebook: Offense returning to full strength

By Danny O’Neil

RENTON – The Seahawks are getting better.

That’s not just a commentary on their performance Sunday in Atlanta but a reflection of the improving health, specifically of this offense.

Wide receiver Percy Harvin is one step closer to making his Seahawks debut after the team activated him from the Physically Unable to Perform list Monday. (AP)

Center Max Unger is on track to return from a concussion that kept him out of Sunday’s game, offensive tackles Russell Okung and Breno Giacomini are going to elevate their practice regimen beginning Wednesday and wide receiver Percy Harvin has been added to the 53-man roster and will be eligible to play for the Seahawks for the first this season.

“There’s a chance all three of those guys could play this week for us,” coach Pete Carroll said of the three offensive linemen. “The potential of Percy coming back just adds to that. It’s a time when the push is really on right now.”

Translation: This Seahawks team – which is 9-1 and has won 12 consecutive home games – is about to get stronger, if not this week then very soon.

“We’ll just see how that goes,” Carroll said. “To us it’s not a pressured decision. We’re going to try it again to really consider all the factors and make sure we’re doing this right.”

Seattle has its bye following Sunday’s game against Minnesota, which could factor into the decision-making process as keeping any of those players out this week would result in two weeks of time to be even more ready.

“It’s really two weeks that you could buy,” Carroll said. “So we have that in mind, and we haven’t rushed in any of these decisions. We’re not going to start rushing them now.”

Unger, Bryant on track to return

Unger and defensive end Red Bryant both missed this week’s game in Atlanta after suffering concussions in Week 9.

Bryant will continue his rehab work on Tuesday, according to Carroll, and if Bryant responds well, he should be ready to practice Wednesday.

“He and Max are still day-to-day,” Carroll said, “but they both look like they’re going to make it back.”

Browner’s injury is significant

Cornerback Brandon Browner left Sunday’s game with a strained groin, which Carroll said is significant.

“It looks pretty serious,” Carroll said. “We’ll know more later in the week here. He’s got a substantial groin issue here. We’ve got to figure out.”

Carroll didn’t dismiss the possibility that it could be season-ending, saying the team needed a couple of days to figure it out.

Browner is in his third year as Seattle’s starting right cornerback, a job he earned in training camp in 2011. He made the Pro Bowl that season.

Walter Thurmond replaced Browner on Sunday just as he did the first two weeks of the season. In passing situations where Seattle uses five defensive backs, Byron Maxwell came in to play right cornerback with Thurmond shifting inside to defend the slot receiver.

“If we’re going to miss Brandon, it’s going to be significant,” Carroll said. “He’s a terrific football player for us, but we do have really capable guys to step in.”