-
Brady HendersonESPN
SEATTLE – Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he expects tight ending veteran Greg Olsen to return for NFC West’s showdown against the Los Angeles Rams and that wide receiver Josh Gordon also has a chance to play.
The Seahawks added Gordon to their 53-man roster on Monday and dropped Penny Hart to make way. This is the first week that Gordon, back from his indefinite suspension, will be eligible to practice with the Seahawks and play in a match.
“We have to get him on the practice field and see what he looks like and all,” said Carroll. “He’s been training really hard. I’ve been able to watch his workouts here on video a few times to see that he’s really in shape – he’s also very tall and strong. We are therefore delighted to see how he is doing. plan the week like he has a chance to contribute, so we’ll see. We’ll hold on to a good hope and thought and see where it fits. ”
Under the terms of Gordon’s parole on December 3, he was only allowed to participate in meetings, individual training, and strength and conditioning until this week. The NFL indefinitely suspended Gordon the day after last season’s Week 15 game for violating the league’s drug abuse policy, effectively making it a one-year ban.
Carroll said he’s interested in how Gordon, 29, handles his first week of training since then.
“Our guys are practicing on a really high clip,” he said. “I’m curious how he fits. He’s a really impressive athlete. He’s a big boy and moves so well and so gracefully. I’m curious how he looks fast on everyone. I would be surprised if he isn’t because his workouts looked so good, but we’ll see what happens. ”
Olsen, 35, has been in reserve since he ruptured the plantar fascia in his left foot in week 11. He returned to practice last Wednesday and had what Carroll called “a really good week.” Carroll said he will play against the Rams while giving the usual qualifier of getting through the week without any setbacks.
Olsen caught 23 of the 35 goals for 224 yards and one touchdown in 10 games before hurting his foot on November 19. He had dealt with similar foot problems in recent seasons.
Olsen, who has a deal to join Fox as a television analyst when he retires, promised his latest foot injury wouldn’t end his career. He tweeted a photo of himself walking off the field with help after being injured and wrote, “I refuse to allow this to be my last moment. I’ll find a way to finish on my legs!”
The Seahawks would secure the title of NFC West by beating the Rams at Lumen Field.
Carroll said wide receiver DK Metcalf, just named after his first Pro Bowl, is doing well after a tough landing against Washington on Sunday. Walking back DeeJay Dallas left that match with what Carroll described as an ankle injury, similar to the one that sidelined LJ Collier’s defensive end for most of the training camp last year, although it’s nowhere near as severe as Collier’s. Carroll said the Seahawks are hopeful that Dallas, their number 4 file now that Rashaad Penny is back, will only have to miss “a few weeks.”
Carroll had no update on whether the correct tackle Brandon Shell (ankle) will be back this week. He praised Cedric Ogbuehi for the job he got on from Shell’s absence against Washington, which got just three official QB hits and zero sacks on Russell Wilson.