Q. This will be Duane's first game against his old team, four years since he's been here. What do you remember about that trade? It was kind of weird that you played them and then traded for him within a couple days.
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, that was a strange turnaround right there. I asked him about it this week just to check in with him. He's been gone long enough and there's hardly anybody there that he was with and all that, so it's not a big deal to him it didn't sound like. But it's been a really -- it's been a big deal, made a big trade to get him. He's played great football for us. He's been a great leader for our club and all that.
I don't know if there's anything significant past that, but leave it.
Q. You kind of touched on this: What has he meant in the four years since he's been here with you in terms of fortifying that position?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, he's such a great leader because he works so hard and takes care of himself so well. He's a guy that's always working. He's always working out. He's always on it. Tougher than nails about coming back from anything -- he's had nicks and all that over the years, and he always gets back with a great attitude. We've learned how to work with him to make sure that he's at his best. I think he's been -- had a really good run this year, and hopefully we can keep it going through the rest of the season.
But his voice is what's really powerful. When he talks to the players, when he speaks, everybody is listening, and he's firm about his thoughts, and he's competitive in games, and he moves guys in the games by the things he says at times and stuff, so he's everything you're looking for.
Q. Quandre Diggs is listed as questionable. How is he doing, and if he can't go with Jamaal already being out, what options do you have at the safety position? Looks like it's pretty thin right now.
PETE CARROLL: He's going. He feels fine. He missed time so that we could rest him to make sure, but he's determined to play, so I'm not even thinking about it.
Q. Pete, of the two injuries listed for Travis Homer, which one is keeping him out?
PETE CARROLL: I think it's the hamstring is newer than the calf. He's kind of been dealing with the calf for a while, so the hamstring thing popped up. I think that's probably more the issue. I haven't asked him specifically that question, but that's what I would lead with because it's the newest one.
Q. How is Adrian Peterson doing, and is he in the plans on Sunday?
PETE CARROLL: Adrian, he had a lower back issue that came up, and he felt it a little bit coming into Wednesday, and then on Wednesday he couldn't go. We're going to hold him out. We're got to take care of him and look after him.
Q. With the situation with Brandon Shell, would Jake Curhan be an option there if Brandon can't go?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, Jake has played on the right side for us and Stone can play there, as well. Brandon, he's been hanging in there with a shoulder that's just been a bother to him, and we've just got to give him a break this week and see if we can get him stronger for the finish of the season.
Q. Do you expect that Russell Wilson is through all the finger now and he's at his eight week mark, and was it really noticeable that last week was so much better than the weeks before that?
PETE CARROLL: No, I just think that it was almost the logic of it, that he's better than he's been each week. Each week he just -- I can't tell you that he would report that oh, I feel so much better this week. He didn't talk like that. He would just talk about he can go.
It just makes sense. It's an eight-week for everybody until the world except for Russell, and he made it back in four weeks, so he pulled it off and could play football and did everything he could, and he's just the best he's been. I think he'll be better this week, and I think each week it'll feel like that for him, but he's not dwelling on it at all. He's moved well beyond.
Q. How has it been seeing Damien Lewis get back into the swing of things here and what are you looking for out of him getting back in the lineup?
PETE CARROLL: First, he didn't miss a snap all week. He took everything, and it's great to have him back out there. Just feels like it's supposed to feel. He's such a good football player, and as he's growing into -- it just feels good to have him out there. He missed nothing.
He means something to us because he's been a starter and he's been working hard at it, and he's tough and all that, and so it just helps us continuity-wise. It's a good deal for us.
Q. What are some of the things that Coach Canales and Coach Davis often bring during the week? How does what they do during the week show up on game days for you?
PETE CARROLL: Well, they have different assignments. Austin is the quarterback coach, and he's digging in every step of the way with Russ, making sure that the plan and all that kind of stuff is well seeded and all the questions are answered. He's on everything strictly with the quarterback.
David is responsible for the passing game, and so his work goes more with Shane. He works with everybody, but he's more of an overview on that and contributes in all of the special situations that are part of the passing game.
He also gives us a really good connection with Russ because he's been here throughout all of the years and knows all the history and the background. He and Nate, they just hold all of the information from the past, and anything we've ever done, those guys can recycle in a heartbeat, and they're great at it. So David is in charge of that kind of stuff.
They have different duties, you know. David is overseeing everything in terms of the passing game and kind of the conduit to Shane.
Q. I think you implied the other day that you're counting on Rashaad probably to be your primary ball carrier on Sunday. Is he healthy enough at this point to sort of take on a heavy load, and how much of that do you need to see being that it's been rare for him to handle that much because of injuries throughout his career to this point?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, it feels like the first time he's been back-to-back in a while, where he could really come back the next week and go again. What I'm implying is that I'm hoping that he'll be a big part of it in the game. I'm not telling you numbers or any of that kind of stuff, but I'm just real anxious for him to be part of it and see what he can contribute in all of the different aspects of the plan.
It was really good to get Alex a week because he's got kind of a nagging issue that he's dealing with, but he made it through fine. Like always, I don't care who gets the ball the most. It doesn't matter to me. But what I will try to do is get a feel for who's doing well, who's got a good feel for it, and give them more opportunities as the game goes on.
Q. What kind of week did you get from Gerald Everett this week?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, we got a really focused week from Gerald. He's really disappointed in the game from last week, and we didn't not talk about it. We were on the topic all week. It's such a big deal to take care of the football, and he had his issues this past week. Chad Morton was kind of his personal study, and he was with him all week long, making sure that he's doing everything he can possibly do to take care of the football like he's supposed to.
He was humbled by it. He was disappointed at what happened. He's fortunate and he knows it, too, that we won the football game. But he'll bounce right back.
Q. Did Jamal Adams have his surgery?
PETE CARROLL: Yes, he did. Yes. He did. Just the early indications are they really worked hard to make sure that this is going to be secure and all that and took some steps to do that. I haven't talked to him yet since the surgery, but we got really good reports on what they did.
Q. What kind of timetable is that in terms of when he could be back to doing stuff?
PETE CARROLL: I don't have those dates for you right now. I don't know that.
Q. You kind of touched on this one about Rashaad, but how did Alex benefit from taking a weekend off and maybe getting a little healthier?
PETE CARROLL: The last couple weeks Alex was preparing by really holding back during the week and then letting it go on the weekend. This week he didn't have to do that. He was able to practice fast and hard and get his reps in because just missing that game just gave him a boost. He should be back to normal and back to full flow and all that. I know he's excited about coming back. He hated that he missed a game. We kind of had to do it. He wouldn't have chosen not to play, he wanted to go, and we had to do it to try to rest him and give him a little bit of a jump for this finish of the season coming up.
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