RENTON -- Jarran Reed was wide awake and staring at his clock on Sunday night. Reed's six-week suspension with the Seahawks was coming to an end and he was giddy with excitement about rejoining his teammates on Monday.
He just couldn't get to sleep.
"I remember I cut everything off, TV, lights, and I was at home just popping my eyes open checking the time on my phone," Reed said.
“When I woke up it was definitely like 6:30 and that was just because I went to bed at like 3:30. I couldn’t sleep either.”
Reed said he didn't want to be the first person in the building on Monday morning, but his eagerness to return to the team was obvious. He looked to be in tremendous shape when speaking with reporters prior to practice on Wednesday.
“He looks the way a football player is supposed to look,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton said after practice. “Just seeing his joy to be back — he really missed the fellas; he really missed the game. I think the kind of impact he had on others. He got a standing ovation when he came into the room. He was real excited."
Reed said he spent the last six weeks training every day at Athletic Form in Seattle with Robel Woldu to ensure he was in the best shape possible when it came time to return to the team.
"I was real just excited to be back. Of course I’ve been gone for like 42 days. I counted every one of them. I’m just happy to be back," Reed said.
Reed rejoins a team that is 5-1 to start the season but still hasn't appeared to hit its stride defensively. Seattle ranks just 20th in total defense and points per game allowed through six weeks. The group has managed just 10 sacks overall through six games with just eight of those sacks coming from the defensive line. The Seahawks rank just 22nd out of 24 teams to have played six games in the sack department. Only the Cincinnati Bengals (7) and Atlanta Falcons (5) have produced fewer sacks at this stage.
"It hasn’t been very productive for sacks. I wish we had more. We like to have more," head coach Pete Carroll said of the pass rush. "Jadeveon [Clowney] has been all around the quarterback. His pressure numbers are good. He’s been close. He could’ve had four or five already.
"I think we’ll see a difference now that J-Reed is back. I think the complement that he brings, not just what he’ll do, but how he’ll affect the other guys. He’s a really savvy football player and he takes advantage of the calls and the leans and tells that guys give him. He’s really good at it. It’s what he just blossomed at last year. I think he’ll be a factor in helping other guys playing well around him."
Reed had 10.5 sacks last year for Seattle in his best season so far. His presence in the middle of the defense could help free things up that much more for Clowney and Ziggy Ansah on the edges.
"I'm happy he's here, happy he's back," defensive end Jadeveon Clowney said. "You can always use a guy like that who dominated last year. Hope he comes back with another dominating year and helps the team. Anything that can help this team, I'm with it."
Carroll said Monday that they've essentially had to use two nose tackles inside in Poona Ford and Al Woods through the first six weeks. While those guys are accomplished in their specific roles, Reed brings a different dimension to the table. Now they'll be able to pair Reed and Quinton Jefferson inside with Clowney and Ansah on the edges in an attempt to maximize their rush potential.
"There’s no question that when he’s back to full speed playing, whenever that happens -- if that’s now, it would be welcomed -- he’s a big factor" Carroll said. "He’s a big factor. The spacing that happens with a guy that causes problems there, in the sets that happen to take care of him, open up areas and spaces for the other guys."
While Carroll hedged on when Reed will be fully ready to go, Reed was far more definitive in his assessment. He hasn't been waiting six weeks to ease back into this.
“I’m fully game ready, of course. I worked my tail off, so trust me I’m ready," Reed said.
Injury Updates:
Seven players missed practice for the Seahawks on Wednesday.
Will Dissly is set to have surgery on Thursday to repair his injured Achilles. The injury occurred in the second quarter of Sunday's win in Cleveland. Dissly will likely head to injured reserve later in the week to facilitate Reed's return to the 53-man active roster. Reed is currently on a one-week roster exemption.
Duane Brown (biceps) and D.J. Fluker (hamstring) did not practice, though Fluker took part in the team's walkthrough earlier in the day. Both players missed the Browns game with their injuries and appear unlikely to make it back this week as well.
New additions to the injury report were: safety Bradley McDougald (back), safety Lano Hill (elbow), linebacker K.J. Wright (knee) and defensive end Ziggy Ansah (ankle).
While there was no updates on the status of the four players, Ansah's ankle issue likely stems from his fumble recovery in Cleveland as he was tackled awkwardly by a Browns player.
Running back Rashaad Penny was not listed on the report after missing the last game with a hamstring injury.
Injury Report:
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 30: Jarran Reed #90 of the Seattle Seahawks sacks Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)