DeShawn Shead will be in uniform for the Seahawks when they play a do-or-die game against the Cowboys on Sunday.
The Seahawks are activating the cornerback from the PUP list, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Shead tweeted he’d been given the go-ahead as well earlier today. Shead returned to practice recently after a lengthy recovery from knee surgeries.
Shead underwent a second operation on his left knee in July, delaying his return to action. As a result, he’s missed almost all of his sixth NFL season. He signed a one-year deal to stay in Seattle during the offseason. The injury against the Falcons in January damaged his stock, and not playing until Week 16 of this season — with a possibility this will be a two-game campaign for the 29-year-old Shead — won’t help garner him a long-term deal.
But Shead was Richard Sherman‘s starting mate throughout last season and will be a key component for secondary that’s missing Sherman and Kam Chancellor for this all-hands-on-deck contest. Shead made 90 tackles and deflected 14 passes in 2016. He also started six games in 2015.
The 8-6 Seahawks are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season, and winning out won’t be enough. They need help to secure another berth.