Stephen A. Smith reacts to Seahawks QB Russell Wilson's comments about taking hits in the NFL and interprets them as a slight toward Panthers QB Cam Newton. (2:05)

RENTON, Wash. -- Pete Carroll revealed this week that the Seattle Seahawks gave serious consideration to sitting Russell Wilson after he suffered a right high ankle sprain in Week 1 and again when he sprained the MCL in his left knee in Week 3.

"Every week. Every week it was a concern," Carroll said. "As the issues changed, he was able to work his way through it. But it was every concern that he wasn’t going to make it through the week. Had we sat him down, we would have had to sit him down for about five weeks for him to recover from everything, had we said, 'Let’s wait for him to feel good.' We’re at that point right now. Five or six weeks or whatever that is."

There has been increased optimism this week that Wilson is getting healthier. He played through the lower body injuries and also the strained right pectoral he suffered in Week 7.

Wilson has not missed a start in his NFL career.

"Yeah, they told me; they tried to talk to me about the idea of not playing," Wilson said. "There was no chance. I was playing. There was no chance I wasn’t playing. That was kind of my thought process."

His mobility compromised by a variety of injuries this season, Russell Wilson has not been a factor in the Seahawks' running game. Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports

Wilson deserves a ton of credit for the work he has put in to rehab and treat his injuries, but the offense has looked different with him playing injured. Wilson hasn't been a factor in the running game (44 total rushing yards), and the Seahawks haven't produced as many explosive plays.

Carroll hinted that the offense is focused on regaining its identity going into Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills. That is possible, though, only if Wilson's health is improving.

"I’m feeling great, I’m feeling the best I’ve felt since Week 1," Wilson said. "So that’s a good thing."

Wilson's ankle injury was no longer listed on the injury report this week. He has been practicing fully, and the pectoral injury didn't seem to limit him last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

The knee injury continues to be the one to watch. Wilson said he switched to a lighter, thinner titanium knee brace last week. Throughout the season, he has had to adjust the way he plays.

"Tater [Carl Smith], my quarterbacks coach, said he was going to put a shock collar on me any time I left the pocket the first few weeks -- just to be smart, long season, long journey, and we could still win without me just running it or whatever," Wilson said.

"I’ve been able to push it, able to run a bunch late in the past week or so. I was swimming a bunch before, just trying to keep the conditioning up and all that. It feels great, and I want to make sure that I’ll be ready to go and ready to roll."

The Seahawks' offense has scored just one touchdown in its past 23 possessions. But if Wilson is able to get healthier, the team has confidence that the offense can get going in the final nine games.

"I’m counting on things taking a turn here and things picking back up for all the obvious reasons," Carroll said. "Russell is getting better. That’s a big deal. We’re really glad to see him feel better and doing more and all that.

"That’s a big part of it, but we have to execute better, as well. We’ve got to give our guys a good chance to unload, and that’s what we’re hoping to do in the next few weeks, and we’re hoping it will be obvious."