PITTSBURGH — Sidney Rice's absence from Sunday's game was not a surprise. He was ruled out before the Seahawks left Seattle because of a sore shoulder.

But uncertainty about Rice's future became a topic after Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday morning that Rice has a torn labrum, and he and the Seahawks are hoping to postpone surgery.

While that report might have provided more specifics on the nature of the injury, it didn't change Rice's status going forward. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll still hopes Rice can play in next week's home opener against Arizona.

"This would be a big week for us to test him," Carroll said after Sunday's game. "He was at about 80 percent last week. If you had watched practice, you would think he could play. But we didn't hit him, we didn't knock him around. We won't know until we get him more active with him in practice. We'll know more this week."

Carroll was asked specifically about the report of a torn labrum.

"He's got some damage in his shoulder," Carroll said, "and we're trying to figure out how he can come back."

Tight end John Carlson was placed on injured reserve before the season began after suffering a torn labrum, but Carroll was clear to point out that was a more severe injury.

"John's was really bad," Carroll said. "As we went through the time watching to see if John would progress, he didn't. His shoulder kept popping out just sitting at his desk. That's not where Sidney is at all. They're different situations. The labrum issues are all different and ... (Rice is) responding very well."

Rice, 25, signed a five-year contract with the Seahawks in July. He missed the first exhibition game with a sore shoulder, then came back and played the next two before suffering an injury during practice on Aug. 29. Rice sat out three weeks before returning to the field last week.

Blanked

Sunday's shutout was the first in Carroll's 15 seasons as a head coach. It was his 201st game as a head coach, including the postseason.

The previous low was set when his Patriots lost 7-6 at Pittsburgh in the 1997 playoffs. USC twice was held to six points while he was the Trojans coach. In Carroll's nine seasons at USC, the Trojans were held to fewer than 10 points in three games.

Sunday's game was the fourth time the Seahawks failed to hit double digits in Carroll's tenure.

Steeler trips,

refs slip

Yes, Raheem Brock hit quarterback Ben Roethlisberger below his waist in the second quarter, and yes, it is a penalty to hit a quarterback low.

But replays showed that Steelers rookie right tackle Marcus Gilbert appeared to trip Brock. So, should Brock have been penalized?

"There's nothing you can do once you're falling toward the quarterback," he said.

Protection

shored up

Robert Gallery returned to the lineup, starting at left guard, and rookie James Carpenter moved back to right tackle. The Seahawks allowed four sacks, but none in the first half, as the pass protection that was such a problem in San Francisco was noticeably improved.

The running game, however, never got going. Seattle rushed five times for 6 yards in the second half and finished the game with 31 rushing yards.

"I've got to play better," Gallery said. "We've all got to play better. That's what it comes down to — each man doing their job. I'll take responsibility for the line. I am the oldest guy. We've got to work together and get things done."

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was Seattle's leading rusher with 12 yards.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com