Pete Carroll says Kam Chancellor appears ready to play in Seahawks’ home opener

It appears as though Kam Chancellor will indeed play in the Seahawks’ home opener against Chicago.

The team had been non-committal on Chancellor’s status for Sunday’s game since the strong safety returned from his holdout on Wednesday. But coach Pete Carroll told KIRO Radio 97.3 FM Friday morning that Chancellor appears ready to play.

Teammates say Kam Chancellor isn’t missing a step in Seahawks return

“He’s looked like he’s in just rare form,” Carroll told host Dori Monson. “He’s been working out really hard, he’s really lean and ready to go. He was anticipating coming back with the thought that he worked out really hard to get, so he looked great both days, the hard days of the week. So he looks like he’s going to be able to play some football, and we’re looking forward to that.”

Carroll said Chancellor will be on a pitch count, so to speak, considering Sunday will be his first taste of game intensity since the Super Bowl in February. Chancellor’s holdout began at the start of training camp, continued through the preseason and saw him miss the Seahawks’ first two regular-season games.

“Some guys can handle it a little better than others and I think Kam is one of those guys,” Carroll said of returning from an extended absence. “He may be a little rusty. We’ll try to protect him and make sure he doesn’t play too much.”

Carroll said the Seahawks first got word early this week that Chancellor planned to return to the team.

“He was here first thing in the morning on Wednesday, ready to go to work, and that’s what we were waiting to see,” Carroll said. “His attitude has been great. His teammates have embraced him returning as have the coaches and everybody in the organization. I’m sure that our fans will, too. He’s a great kid, he’s been a great leader, he’s been really the centerpiece of everything we’ve been doing, and I hope that everybody will receive him in that fashion.”