For now, it’s wait-and-see on Williams

Published on December 7, 2010 by Seahawks.Com News (Feed)     

With Mike Williams’ injury better than expected, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is optimistic the receiver will heal in time for Sunday’s NFC West matchup in the Bay Area against San Francisco.

Carroll told reporters Monday afternoon that Williams suffered a first-degree ankle sprain on his left leg – the same leg on which Williams had a foot strain heading into the team’s win over Carolina.

Williams injured his ankle on the opening series, getting it rolled on when running back Justin Forsett was being tackled for a 5-yard gain. Williams came out and never returned.

“We think he’s got a chance,” Carroll said of Williams. “It was not a real bad sprain. We just kind of couldn’t tell what happened with the sprain and the foot problem that he has. He couldn’t get up on it and get running. But the doctors think by Thursday or Friday we’ll know a lot more, and have a chance to see where he can go.”

Williams missed his first game of the season two weeks ago, a 42-24 loss at home to Kansas City. But at 6-6 and tied for the top spot in the NFC West with St. Louis, the Seahawks need all of the offensive firepower they can muster in taking on the Niners (4-8) on the road.

Seattle’s other starting receiver, Ben Obomanu, also is a question mark for Sunday. He suffered a bad cut on his right hand while pulling down a 27-yard second-quarter reception against Carolina. Obomanu was hit hard by Panthers safety Charles Godfrey as he hauled in Matt Hasselbeck’s pass, and suffered a deep cut between his fingers that required stitches.

“It’s going to come down to how they can protect him so that he feels OK,” Carroll said of Obomanu’s status this week. “And then, can he function with the protection he’s got to wear? He’s got to be very sore today. He took a real shot, so we’ve just got to wait.”

Williams and Obomanu account for 74 catches and 1,084 passing yards this season, but Carroll said that as of right now the Seahawks do not plan to make a roster move to bring in another receiver, as they already have a couple extra ones on the roster. The Seahawks also could use pass-catching tight end Cameron Morrah as a receiver in a pinch.

Tags: Ankle Sprain, ben obomanu, coach pete carroll, First Degree, first game, Foot Problem, Foot Strain, Home To Kansas City, Justin Forsett, Left Leg, Matchup, Matt Hasselbeck, Nfc West, Niners, Offensive Firepower, Question Mark, S Pass, Seah, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, Yard Gain