The Seattle Seahawks made the signing of the post-NFL Draft offseason thus far, when they signed defensive end Ezekiel Ansah to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million but the former All-Pro did come with some 2018 baggage -- a shoulder injury.

In 2018, Ansah suffered a torn labrum in which he had surgically repaired. The initial report had him needing all of training camp and perhaps a month into the season to get healthy as he continues to recover from repairing the damage but a conflicting report stated the Seahawks believed he'd return midway through training camp and be ready for week one.

But what do the Seahawks really think? Only head coach Pete Carroll could answer that question last Tuesday and as usual, he didn't much have time to get a direct answer. When asked where Ansah was in his recovery window, he didn't give much of an update in his update.

"Where he is? He’s in the process," he said. He’s got a long process to get back. His attitude is great. He’s working every day, involved in all phases of everything that’s going on in the training room and with strength and conditioning. It’s just going to take a while and we’ll see. We won’t know until we get back after the break, until we get to camp really to see how far along we are able to get him. And then we’ll see what camp tells us. I can’t tell you anything more than other than just got to wait and see. But he’s doing everything he can and we’re all on it and really fired up about him being here."

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Carroll was equally coy when asked about the prospects of Ansah returning before the regular season. He simply said there was a chance in response to that question.

Right now, it's unknown when Ansah will return to action and how close or far away he is from that goal. What is known is the Seahawks see him as a perfect system fit and replacement for Frank Clark who they traded in April.

"It’s a huge get for us. Ziggy playing last year at the time when he got hurt was as effective a rusher as there was in the league," Carroll said. "After seven games, he had four sacks and 20% of the time he was causing problems for the quarterback. That’s as big a number as anybody had. He’s got a chance to be a big factor for us. He’ll play just like we played our Leo position in the past. He’s exactly that type of athlete in that makeup. We’re not going to play anybody the whole time. We’ll roll them through it and all but he has exactly what we’re looking for. Speed, size, strength, toughness, he’s got a great motor about the way he plays. We’re really fortunate to have him."

The Seahawks are fortunate to have Ansah who was one of the best pass rushers in the NFL in 2018 during his limited time.

But his time will have to be much, much less limited in 2019 if the team wants to have success and for now, therein lies the problem.