RENTON -- The bye week allowed the Seahawks a chance to get some players healthy and back on the practice field this week ahead of their meeting with the New York Giants this Sunday.
All but three players on their roster were full participants in Seattle's final practice of the week on Thursday. The team will have a walkthrough tomorrow before leaving for New York tomorrow afternoon.
Only left guard Luke Joeckel (knee) and defensive end Cliff Avril (neck) missed the practice for injury reasons. Safety Earl Thomas was also absent to attend to a family matter.
Defensive end Michael Bennett was able to fully participate in practice despite a plantar fascia injury sustained in the team's last game against the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Pete Carroll said Bennett is sore but that he should be good to go against the Giants.
"It hurts every time you walk and it’s something you have to deal with. Just fighting through it is just like any other day," Bennett said on Wednesday.
"As many years as I’ve played in the NFL, you deal with pain as you go through, and I think for me it’s just being able to focus on the game and not too much worry about it because once you make that decision to play, then you have to play through it. For me, that’s just dealing with the pain during the game."
Running back C.J. Prosise (ankle) and cornerback Jeremy Lane (groin) were each able to fully participate as well. However, whether they will play Sunday remains last certain.
"Anxious to see how he comes out tomorrow from the work," Carroll said of Prosise. "He made it through the week. He had a little setback the first day, was just uncomfortable. But he made it through practice, made it through the next day and made it through today so that’s a really good sign. So that gives us a chance to possibly have him available."
Lane was only able to practice on Thursday. He was injured five plays into Seattle's 46-18 win over the Indianapolis Colts three weeks ago.
"It's good to see him out there. We've got to assess how that work affected him but it was great to get him back out," Carroll said.
Meanwhile, defensive end Quinton Jefferson is available to play after breaking a bone in his hand two weeks ago in his first practice back with the team.
"Very frustrating," Jefferson said. "Your first practice back, it's like 'really?' Everything happens for a reason. It's unfortunate but you've got to keep on moving. I'm just blessed that it's my hand. Had a knee injury last year held me out the whole (season). You can play with a hand, put a cast on it. I'm just happy I'm able to play."
While Jefferson broke his left thumb last year, he broke the fourth metacarpal on his right hand this year. He said he jammed the finger in a pass rush drill and the recoil caused the fracture in his hand.
"Once the swelling goes down, you're good to go," Jefferson said. "I'm happy. If I get my opportunity I'm going to make the most of it."
Carroll had said he thought the injury would keep Jefferson out four weeks initially. Instead, Jefferson will be available to them this weekend.
"Everything worked out great and he was out here battling so he's ready to go," Carroll said. "It's not one of those real cumbersome wraps that they're putting on, that guys get sometimes so he's got a chance to help up. Surprised by that."
Defensive end Marcus Smith (ankle) and defensive tackle Nazair Jones (knee) were also back at practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's practice.
With Joeckel out, Mark Glowinski and Ethan Pocic will split time at left guard. Carroll wouldn't say which one will start in New York.
Cliff Avril continuing to assess options:
The Seahawks will be placing defensive end Cliff Avril on injured reserve eventually, but it has not happened just yet.
"We haven’t done the business part of this yet but we have already talked to Cliff about putting him on the IR list and that will happen whenever we get to the business part," Carroll said.
Avril is dealing with a neck injury sustained three weeks ago against the Indianapolis Colts that has brought his availability for the rest of the season into doubt. However, Carroll said they aren't sure if the injury will potentially threaten Avril's career.
"We have to wait and see on that," Carroll said. "That’s really up to the doctors and Cliff, and all that kind of stuff. I’m one thousand percent supportive of whatever we need to do here to help him. That’s why we’re taking our time; the IR thing gives him six weeks at least to figure out whatever else we can figure out, but he’s not sure what is best for him right now, and he’s trying to find that out. We’re giving him hopefully a good sense and the comfort that we’re going to support it all the way throughout it and figure out what’s best and do that."
Avril told Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated that he's not currently considering retirement and plans to return.
"You might see me at the end of this year," he said.
Avril will be out for eight weeks once Seattle places him on injured reserve. He could return to practice after six weeks, if able, with a two-week period of time to return to practice before needing to be added back to the active roster.
Injury Report:
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 25: Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson #99 of the Seattle Seahawks in action against the Dallas Cowboys during the preseason game at CenturyLink Field on August 25, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)