SAN JOSE — Sharks center Logan Couture was a near-full participant in Wednesday’s practice but didn’t want to characterize it — just yet, anyway — as a significant step forward in his recovery from a concussion.

Couture, injured Dec. 15, skated in an orange jersey as the Sharks went through a roughly 45-minute practice at their facility. He was more active Wednesday than he was when the Sharks last practiced Dec. 22, but still likely will not play in Thursday’s game against the Calgary Flames at SAP Center.

The Sharks have gone 2-1 without Couture in the lineup and entered Wednesday alone in third place in the Pacific Division with 42 points.

“It was a practice. I wasn’t on a line or anything, I was able to get through it,” Couture said. “It’s all about how I feel the rest of the day and go from there.”

“It’s all on your reaction to exertion,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said of Couture. “He looked good out there, but it’s what your reaction is to that later today and tomorrow.”

Fellow forward Barclay Goodrow, who suffered an upper body injury Dec. 7 in a game against Carolina and remains on injured reserve, also skated in a non-contact orange jersey but appears close to a return. Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.

“When it first happened, we didn’t really know how long it was going to be,” Goodrow said. “It was kind of a weird scenario. But it feels good now and feels good to get back out there.”

Wednesday also marked Paul Martin’s return to Sharks practice as he was paired with Tim Heed. Martin had been on a conditioning stint with the Barracuda from Dec. 10-23 and played four AHL games.

The Sharks practiced with eight defensemen. Brent Burns remained with Brenden Dillon, Marc-Edouard Vlasic was with Justin Braun, as always, and Dylan DeMelo was paired with Joakim Ryan, who was recalled from the AHL on Dec. 22 and had 10:13 of ice time the next night in the Sharks’ 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report newsletter.

“Nice problem to have,” DeBoer said. “Like we told the whole group, we have, in my mind, eight NHL defensemen. Can never have enough and we’re going to need all eight. Who plays is going to be a nightly decision on the best lineup to help us win that night.”

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Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win Assuming they keep eight defensemen and do not return Ryan to the AHL, the Sharks will have difficult decisions to make as to who sits and who plays.

That might especially be true for Martin, who was scratched for the Kings game with the flu and may find himself watching more games if the Sharks continue to play well.

“I think circumstances around this season have just played out that this is where we’re at,” DeBoer said. “So (Martin) gets it. He’s a smart guy. He’s a real pro and a consummate team guy. I’m sure he wants to play. He’d love to be in there tomorrow night. He also knows that the way the season’s gone, he might have to wait for a chance and make the most of it when he gets in there.”