The Going Gets Tough, and So Doesand So Does Carrolll

With the season winding down and the losses mounting, Coach Pete Carroll is trying to keep the pressure on his team.

All week, players ran up-downs as punishment for various infractions. Carroll also has kept receiver Kareem Kelly dangling over his absence from practice Tuesday because of a car accident. Kelly will play but has not been told if he will start against Arizona.

“We’ve still got [today],” Carroll said. “I don’t have to decide until then.”

The middle of the offensive line faces a similar situation. The coaching staff has fostered a competition among Norm Katnik, Faaesea Mailo and Lenny Vandermade. The status of Zach Wilson, who missed much of this week’s practice, is also uncertain.

“Those guys have to wait it out,” Carroll said.

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Coaches say they have no plans to replace Carson Palmer but, with the starting quarterback wearing an ice pack on his knee after practice, offensive coordinator Norm Chow met with freshman Matt Leinart this week. Chow wanted to know how Leinart felt about playing--and giving up his chance to redshirt this season--with only four games remaining.

“I told him if the team needs me, I’ll contribute,” Leinart said. “But it does kind of depend on how much I’d play. It’s not like I want to go in there for garbage time and hand the ball off.”

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The status of fullback Charlie Landrigan, who practiced with an ankle brace Thursday, remains unclear.

“I’ve got to get used to the pain,” he said. “The brace is OK, it’s more the pounding on the ankle.”

The senior wants to finish the final weeks of his college career, and to play in front of his grandmother who came from North Dakota to spend the winter in Arizona. If he can’t play, Chad Pierson will replace him.

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Linebacker Matt Grootegoed, held out of practice for part of this week, will start on Saturday....Tailback Chris Howard, who missed practice while taking a midterm, will be limited to emergency use.