Seattle Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung appears to be on track to return to the lineup this week after missing Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a bruised lung.
Center Max Unger’s status is more in question.
Okung was injured while being blocked by Ray McDonald on an interception return against the 49ers two weeks ago. Okung was spitting up blood on the sidelines and ultimately went to the hospital for further evaluation before being released.
Okung returned to practice for the Seahawks on Tuesday and head coach Pete Carroll he has “a real chance to get back” this week for Seattle’s regular season finale against the St. Louis Rams.
Unger did not practice on Tuesday but Carroll said he may be able to do something on Wednesday as he tries to get back from a high-ankle sprain suffered five weeks ago against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’s going to be touch-and-go to get him by the game,” Carroll said. “It’s just been a long, arduous process getting him back.”
“Sometimes those ankle sprains don’t go away for a whole season and guys get brought back early because they feel they can go and it just lingers and never gets right. So, if he can make it this week, we’ll go and we’ll see what happens.”
It also appears likely that tight ends Cooper Helfet and Tony Moeaki will be able play this week.
Helfet played through a cracked rib suffered Sunday night against the Arizona Cardinals while Moeaki missed the game due to a shoulder injury suffered the week before.
“That would give us a boost if both of those guys are back and fighting forward and we’ll figure it out once we get the week through,” Carroll said.
Cornerback Tharold Simon also has a chance to play this week after injuring his shoulder late against the Cardinals.
“This will be an amazing recovery if he is able to do it,” Carroll said. “He had a real knock on his shoulder, but he feels pretty good. He has been through it before on his other shoulder, so that helps sometimes. It seems like he has a chance.”
However, Jermaine Kearse will likely miss the game this week after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring sprain in Arizona.
“It’s going to be tough for him to be back. He did tear his hamstring a little bit,” Carroll said.