Pete Carroll: Jon Ryan, Michael Bennett should play for Seahawks vs Cardinals
Dec 22, 2016, 3:12 PM | Updated: Dec 23, 2016, 1:09 pm
A neck injury suffered last week isn't expected to keep Michael Bennett out of action Saturday. (AP)
(AP)
It looks like the Seahawks will get a very important Christmas wish granted – to be about as healthy as they’ve been all season.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had very promising news about the two players with notable injuries coming out of last week’s win over the Los Angeles, saying that both punter Jon Ryan (concussion) and Pro Bowl defensive lineman Michael Bennett (neck) should be ready to play Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals. Ryan and Bennett were each full participants in Thursday’s practice.
“Both guys should play,” Carroll told KIRO Radio 97.3’s Dori Monson on “The Pete Carroll Show” Thursday. “Jon is way ahead of (concussion) protocol stuff, so I’m sure he’ll pass that with flying colors because he looks great. And Michael is scheduled to be OK too so we’re in good shape.”
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Ryan was limited in practice Wednesday, which proved he’d made significant progress since taking a shot on a fake punt run against the Rams. Bennett was held out of Wednesday’s practice, but while his neck injury was listed as the reason, it appeared to be just more of a precaution or usual day off considering he stepped up to the podium for a media session that day.
Having Ryan and Bennett healthy helps the Seahawks immensely against Arizona. With Ryan available, Seattle won’t be forced to use a prized roster spot on a second punter, and Bennett being able to play won’t hurt depth along the D-line in a week when defensive end Damontre Moore was placed on Injured Reserve.
The Seahawks will likely have linebacker Brock Coyle back Saturday after he missed three games with a foot injury. He was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. That would leave running back C.J. Prosise, who has a shoulder injury, as the only player on Seattle’s active roster expected to be ruled out due to injury against Arizona.
Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman was listed as not practicing Thursday, but that was seemingly just a rest day.
