RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks will have 10 of 11 defensive starters on the field Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field.
With middle linebacker Bobby Wagner returning from a turf toe injury, it marks the first time the team has had more than nine starters on defense in a game since all 11 started the game on Oct. 12th against the Dallas Cowboys. Wagner left that game in the first half, but returned and played the second half. Cornerback Byron Maxwell left that game with a calf injury.
The one missing starter on defense now is nose tackle Brandon Mebane, who is out the rest of the season with a torn hamstring.
"I think it’s big that we’re getting right [health wise] at the right time," Wagner said Friday. "This is an important stretch for us, and we’ll be ready."
Two backups on defense will not play -- rookie outside linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (shoulder) and nickel cornerback Marcus Burley (hamstring).
As expected, center Max Unger is out with a knee and ankle injury. He is expected to be out three to four weeks. Coach Pete Carroll would not say who will start at center between Patrick Lewis and Lemuel Jeanpierre, who was re-signed this week.
Left guard James Carpenter, who was a full participant Thursday, now is listed as questionable for Sunday.
"He was limited at the end of the week here," Carroll said of Carpenter. "He had a little more work [Thursday] than we could get him [Friday]. We had to hold him out, and we will see all the way up to game time with him."
If Carpenter doesn’t play, Alvin Bailey will make his third consecutive start at left guard. Bailey also started at left tackle on Nov. 2 when Russell Okung was hurt.
Running back Marshawn Lynch, who didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday the past three weeks, was a full participant Friday and Carroll said Lynch is ready to go.