Carroll says he makes injury decisions 'like these guys are my own kids'

SEATTLE – If Russell Wilson starts Sunday – and yes, he probably will – it won’t be because the Seattle Seahawks don’t care about his well-being, coach Pete Carroll said during a press conference Wednesday at the VMAC.

“It’s not that the game is so big that nothing else matters,” Carroll said. “That’s not how this works.”

Carroll said he’d be surprised if his quarterback doesn’t return Sunday against the New York Jets after suffering a sprained MCL last weekend, prompting a round of questions from reporters about how the team evaluates such decisions.

“I’m doing this like these guys are my own kids,” Carroll said. “What would you tell your own son, and how would you look after them so they’re safe for the long haul?”

The team has had to make hard decisions on a whole raft of starters this season: Tight end Jimmy Graham, running back Thomas Rawls and first-round draft pick Germain Ifedi have joined Wilson on the trainer’s table.

Carroll said that many players are so competitive and driven, the coaching staff has to help them set realistic expectations.

“You can have a mentality that pushes you past the point, so you’re not using all the information, you’re not using your best sense,” Carroll said. “So it’s important to get to know these guys as individuals.

“Sometime the will and the drive is so overpowering that they don’t see what they need to see.”