Pete Carroll says RB Thomas Rawls is ‘ready to go’ for Seahawks

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll reiterated during his weekly Friday appearance with Dori Monson on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM that running back Thomas Rawls and linebacker Michael Wilhoite are likely to return for Seattle’s home opener Sunday against the 49ers. Carroll remained mum, though, regarding additional injury updates.

Seahawks O-line focused on improving ground game against 49ers

Here are a few notes:

• On the injury front, Carroll is remaining mum until the official injury report: “It’s going to be interesting at the end of the week. We’ll see what happens. We have guys working out that haven’t played – Thomas (Rawls) is ready to go, it seems, Michael Wilhoite looks like he’s ready to go. A couple of the guys that are nicked, it’s going to be close. We’ll see how they do at the end of this week. I’m anxious to see how it turns out.”

• Reflecting on the Seahawks’ performance at Green Bay, Carroll said: “I was a little disappointed in that we had outscored everyone in the NFL in the preseason, we were the best team in the league, which doesn’t mean a lot, but we had been productive and had moved the ball pretty well. So, I was disappointed that were weren’t able to carry that over and show it in that game… we think we’ve made a lot of progress and I think it’s going to show up here in the next few weeks, and we’ll find out. We’ll see how we do.”

• On whether the social issues the team is working through are ever a factor in distractions: “I don’t think so. If anyone would be that way, Michael Bennett might still be dealing with some issues. But, he seems to be pretty clear, and he’s pretty comfortable with where he’s placed that event that took place that was really traumatic for him. I think he’s doing well, but he might have some aftermath of that that’s still bothering him.”

• The oldest coach in the NFL turns 66 today, and when asked what’s changed for him since his first head coaching gig at 42 and today, Carroll quipped: “Well, there’s been a lot of ball games since then…

“Gosh, it’s frightening to think I was trying to be a head coach in the NFL with the experience that I had and the awareness that I had in differentiation to where it is now… that was a fun experience, but I didn’t have a clue… If this is what the oldest guy feels like, then I’m feeling pretty fortunate.”

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