After leaving Kam Chancellor's status for this Sunday's home contest versus the Chicago Bearsup in the air earlier in the week, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Friday the safety looks ready to go.
"He's looked like he's in just rare form," Carroll told KIRO radio of how Chancellor has looked in practice, via the Seattle Times. "He's been working out really hard, he's really lean and ready to go. He was anticipating coming back with the thought that he worked out really hard to get here so he looked great both days, the hard days of the week. So he looks like he's going to be able to play some football and we are looking forward to that."
Chancellor rejoined his teammates this week after a lengthy contract holdout that caused him to miss two games. The safety did not have his contract adjusted upon returning.
Carroll said Chancellor's experience in the system should allow the safety to step right in where he left off, but admitted the team might monitor his snaps.
"We'll have to see how his timing is, making his tackles and making his hits and fits in the running game and all that kind of stuff," Carroll said. "He knows where he is supposed to go but the practice is important -- there is something to that. Some guys can handle it a little better than others (not having practiced much) and I think Kam is one of those guys. He may be a little bit rusty and we'll try to protect him and make sure he doesn't play too much."
Carroll later told the media that "it is not unrealistic" that Chancellor plays all four quarters Sunday, and that the Seahawks have to decide if that's the right thing.
Chancellor was activated to the 53-man roster Saturday. Backup safety Dion Bailey was waived to make room.
After falling to an 0-2 start with a defense that hasn't lived up to its lofty standards, getting the hard-hitting safety back in action after a layoff is important for the defending NFC champs.
