Day later, Seahawks still smiling, buzzing about Kam Chancellor’s return

Kam Chancellor’s return from his long holdout was such a big event his teammates were still smiling about it a day later.

“He even made checks we haven't heard in a while,” end Michael Bennett said of the defensive calls from the three-time Pro Bowl strong safety on his first day back from a 54-day holout. “We were like, 'Oh, damn, Kam's back.'"

His All-Pro partner at safety, Earl Thomas, was beaming like he hadn’t since before he separated his shoulder in January’s NFC championship game. Part of it was Thomas announced Thursday was his daughter’s third birthday -- she was born during the “Fail Mary” win over Green Bay in 2012.

And a large part of it was when Thomas was talking about Chancellor.

Thomas said the defense can’t help but improve from its 0-2 start beginning on Sunday in the home opener against Chicago simply because Chancellor is back in the middle of it.

Yet Thomas prided his partner with whom he entered the league with Seattle in 2010 for dropping a couple interceptions in Chancellor’s first practice of the season.

“He just had butter fingers,” Thomas said with a small grin, which for the ultra-intense free safety is huge

Chancellor had been working out in Los Angeles through Tuesday. Then after what he said was a long night of prayer he flew on a private jet to Seattle telling few if anyone he was coming.

“It was a little weird. It was out of the blue,” Thomas said. “All of a sudden it was, ‘Oh, he’s here.’”

Chancellor remains exempt from the roster; the NFL granted that for up to two weeks. But there is a growing sense around the team that the Seahawks will activate him to the 53-man roster by 1:25 p.m. Saturday so that he can play against the Bears 24 hours later.

Bennett was asked if a guy like Chancellor -- 226 pounds, six percent body fat, according to coach Pete Carroll -- would be able to play an entire game four days after returning from a 54-day holdout and after not playing in any game since the Super Bowl Feb. 1.

“Maybe a guy not like you,” Bennett teased the questioner, “but like Kam, probably so. You’re a little out of shape, but Kam, he’s a great athlete.”

No, I did not ask the question(!)

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Day later, Seahawks still smiling, buzzing about Kam Chancellor’s return."