Pete Carroll says center Max Unger will return this week

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll announced in an interview on 710 ESPN Seattle today that All-Pro center Max Unger, who missed the last two  games with a triceps injury, is expected to return this week.

Said Carroll:

"We’re counting on Max practicing this week. We think he’s going make it this week. Holding him out [Sunday at Indianapolis] gave us the chance to say that now and we look forward to him playing (ESPN)."

The news should be exciting for Seattle fans. The Seahawks have struggled with pass protection in Unger’s absence, especially in passing situations on third down (Seattle converted only two of their 12 third-down attempts in their 34-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts). Carroll addressed the issue on Monday:

"The last couple of weeks, it really shows that protection issues have been at the root of it. There are a number of things we can do better. But the protection issues have made the quarterback move quite a bit and it hasn’t allowed us to be on time the way we would like (The Seattle Times)."

[Source: ESPN/The Seattle Times]