Luke Joeckel set to return for Seahawks after missing five games

Indianapolis Colts v Seattle Seahawks

RENTON -- The Seahawks will get a key piece of their starting offensive line back Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Left guard Luke Joeckel will be in the lineup for the first time since having knee surgery during the team's bye week in October. He's missed the team's last five games while recovering from surgery.

"It will be the first chance to get he and Duane (Brown) playing side-by-side, which will be fun and awesome to see that," head coach Pete Carroll said. "Duane didn't get to work much but he'll play, so I'm really excited to get those guys out there."

Joeckel returned to practice this week for the first time since the surgery and was a full participant in each of the team's three practices. Brown was held out of practices all week but will play despite a sprained ankle.

"I'm excited to play next to him," Joeckel said. "He's a 10-year vet, been playing at a really high level for a long time and a guy like that can make a left guard's job a little easier too. Being able to play together, gel together, it's going to be fun playing next to him for sure.

Joeckel is well versed in Brown's abilities as he got to watch him play twice a year over the last four seasons when Joeckel was in Jacksonville and Brown in Houston.

"That's what I was telling him when he first got here was 'man, I hate watching you play' because he just does things that I couldn't physically do because he's just such a big, strong guy," Joeckel said.

Carroll was mum as to who will start at right guard in place of Oday Aboushi, who is out due to a dislocated shoulder. Ethan Pocic and Mark Glowinski are two options available for Seattle. Offensive line coach Tom Cable had said recently they looked forward to the chance to try Pocic at right guard once Joeckel got healthy. If he was able to take enough reps on the right side during the week, he would appear to be the logical choice.

If Pocic does start at right guard, it would give Seattle three former first-round picks (Brown (HOU), Joeckel (JAX), Germain Ifedi) and two second-round picks (Pocic, Justin Britt) on their starting offensive line.

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin (concussion), safety Kam Chancellor (neck) and Aboushi were all ruled out for Sunday's game.

Carroll said Griffin is feeling good now but wasn't able to pass concussion protocol to play. He should be have a good chance to return next week.

Meanwhile, Chancellor's status continues to be uncertain after a neck injury sustained two weeks ago against the Arizona Cardinals. Carroll said that there will be further information on Chancellor, and defensive end Cliff Avril, sometime in the near future.

"There will be some clarity. Yes." Carroll said. "We're just kind of respecting their process and what's right for them so we just continue to report to you where they are right now and leave it at that. There will be some things happening before too long.

"I know that that's not what you want to hear and all, you want to know more, but that's just kind of the way we're handling it to help them."

Chancellor had been seeing doctors to get opinions on his injuries, but Carroll indicated he knows what the situation is now.

"He pretty much has the information he needs at this point," Carroll said.

Avril has been on injured reserve since October after being injured against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. Chancellor remains on the active roster for now.

Running back Mike Davis is officially listed as doubtful due to a groin injury sustained last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Carroll seemed to leave open a sliver of possibility for Davis to play after his workout on Friday.

"He ran today for the first time and ran well so he's very close. We'll see," Carroll said.

Cornerback DeShawn Shead may be nearing a return to the practice field. After spending all of the season on the physically unable to perform list following a torn ACL in the playoffs last January, Shead is closing in on a chance to get back on the field.

"He's making a jump. Yeah. We're excited about this," Carroll said. "This next week coming up will be a change for him. He's getting closer. This has kind of been a threshold for him this week. He's been busting his butt for so long to get this back. Doesn't mean he jumps right back on the field but he takes a big step next week to get closer to doing that. He has a chance before the end of the season to get back."

Shead had a secondary procedure on his knee in July and had hit a bit of a plateau in his recovery until the last week.

Defensive end Dion Jordan (neck/shoulder) is expected to be available to play after getting a rest day on Friday. Linebacker Michael Wilhoite (calf) and defensive tackle Jarran Reed (hamstring) are both expected back this week after missing the Falcons game.

Tight end Jimmy Graham (ankle) and linebackers Bobby Wagner (hamstring) and D.J. Alexander (shoulder) also are expected to play.

Injury Report:

Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates his 23 yard touchdown with offensive tackle Luke Joeckel #78 in the third quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 1, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)


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