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Brady HendersonESPN
SEATTLE – Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has said he expects veteran Greg Olsen to return to Sunday’s NFC West game against the Los Angeles Rams and wide receiver Josh Gordon has a chance to play as well.
The Seahawks added Gordon to their list of 53 men on Monday and dropped his colleague Penny Hart to make room. This is the first week that Gordon, back from his indefinite suspension, is eligible to practice with the Seahawks and play in a game.
“We have to take him to the training ground and see what everything looks like,” Carroll said. “He worked really hard. I was able to watch my workouts a few times here to see that he’s in great shape – and he’s very big and strong. So we’re excited to see how we plan the week as if he would have a chance to contribute, so we’ll see. We’ll have good hope and a thought and we’ll see where he fits. “
Under the terms of Gordon’s conditional reinstatement on December 3, he was only allowed to attend meetings, individual training and strength and conditioning until this week. The NFL suspended Gordon indefinitely the day after Seattle’s Week 15 game last season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, effectively making it a one-year ban.
Carroll said he’s interested in seeing Gordon handle his first week of training since then.
“Our boys are training in a very high clip,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how he fits in. He’s a really impressive athlete. He’s a big kid and he moves so well and gracefully. I’m looking forward to seeing how fast he looks with everyone else. Last year he jumped and was “I will be surprised if he doesn’t, because his training has looked so good, but we’ll see what happens.”
Olsen, 35, has been in injured reserve since breaking his plantar fascia in his left leg in week 11. He returned to training last Wednesday and had what Carroll called “a very good week.” Carroll said he will play against Rams, while providing the usual qualification he must do during the week, without any obstacles.
Olsen caught 23 of 35 goals for 224 meters and a touchdown in 10 games before injuring his leg on November 19. He has dealt with similar foot problems in recent seasons.
Olsen, who has a deal to join Fox as a television analyst whenever he retires, has vowed that his last leg injury will not mean the end of his career. He posted a photo on Twitter of him leaving the field with assistance after he was injured and wrote: “I refuse to allow this to be my final moment. I will find a way to end up on my feet!”
The Seahawks would secure the NFC West title, defeating the Rams at Lumen Field.
Carroll said wide receiver DK Metcalf, named only for his first Pro Bowl, is doing well after an awkward landing on Sunday against Washington. Runner DeeJay Dallas left that game with what Carroll described as an ankle injury similar to the one that ended defensive LJ Collier for most training camp last year, though not nearly as severe as Collier’s. . Carroll said the Seahawks are hoping that Dallas, No. 4 behind him now that Rashaad Penny is back, should only miss “a few weeks.”
Carroll has had no update on whether right-back Brandon Shell (ankle) will return this week. He praised Cedric Ogbuehi for the work he has done since Shell’s absence against Washington, who scored just three official hits at QB and zero sacks on Russell Wilson.