It should be noted that being active doesn't guarantee a return to the starting lineup. D.J. Fluker was active for the Kansas City game despite a hamstring injury, but only came in to play after Sweezy left with an injury, and he did not play last week despite being active so he could continue to rest that injury. The Seahawks have also done that twice in Justin Britt's career, including in Week 3 against Dallas, having him as an emergency backup while injured with Joey Hunt starting in his place.

Asked on Thursday about the challenge a player faces trying to play having not practiced all week, Carroll said. "The challenge is to stay with it all the way throughout and not be distracted by the rehab and the concerns and the wondering whether you're going to make it or not. That's why guys who know they're going to make it back and are really convicted to that—there's no way they're going to miss—those guys have a better shot at staying in it all week long, so of course we're trying to promote that mentality as much as we can. That allows a guy to mentally be on course for a good preparation. The guys who have been around, they can kind of visualize and use their imagination and get their way through it. After a while that catches up, but in the short term guys can get that done. Really it's the mental part of being connected to it every day, every step of the way and not be distracted by the rehab stuff."