SEATTLE -- The Seahawks activated running back Rashaad Penny off injured reserve ahead of Monday night's game against the New Orleans Saints and waived offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi to make room on their 53-man roster, the team announced.
Seattle also elevated quarterback Jake Luton from its practice squad to back up Geno Smith for a second straight week.
Penny figures to factor heavily into the Seahawks' rushing attack against New Orleans with Smith making his second start for the injured Russell Wilson, running back Alex Collins (groin) banged up and the possibility of rain and wind continuing through kickoff.
"I'm ready to go," Penny said this week. "I'm revved up. I'm excited."
Seattle defensive end Darrell Taylor, however, is inactive after being listed as questionable. Coach Pete Carroll said Saturday he'd be surprised if Taylor doesn't play, and reiterated that Taylor has nothing more than a stiff neck after his scary incident last week in Pittsburgh, where he was stretchered off the field.
On his 710 ESPN Seattle pregame radio hit, Seahawks general manager John Schneider said Taylor is "coming along well" but that the team is being smart by deactivating him.
"No structural damage, which is great," Schneider said. "But still sore and just didn't quite feel like he could let it rip."
The Saints, meanwhile, are likely to have five starters back in the lineup Monday night who have missed significant time to start the season.
New Orleans officially activated receiver Tre'Quan Smith, defensive end Marcus Davenport and linebacker Kwon Alexander from injured reserve on Monday after all three returned to practice last week. Left tackle Terron Armstead and center Erik McCoy are also expected to return from injuries after coming back to practice during the week.
Combined, that group has appeared in just six games this season. Smith was injured during the preseason. Davenport, Alexander and McCoy were all injured in Week 1. Armstead was injured in Week 3.
Penny joins Collins, DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer as Seattle's available tailbacks with Chris Carson (neck) on IR. Collins, who has started the past two games, is expected to play despite his questionable listing, with coach Pete Carroll saying Saturday that he will be "part of the rotation."
Penny, the 27th overall pick in 2018, has played in only 28 of a possible 54 regular-season games because of injuries. The latest was a calf strain he suffered in Week 1. He also tore his ACL in December 2019, which cut short his second season just as he was appearing to emerge as a strong complement to Carson.
"I really try to be available," Penny said. "Sometimes your body says no. Unfortunately, my body has been saying no to me a lot. I've been doing everything ... to not let that happen again."
Ogbuehi began the season on IR. He returned in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers while Brandon Shell (ankle) and Jamarco Jones (illness) were both out. Ogbuehi, a first-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015, joined the Seahawks in 2020. He was re-signed this offseason to a one-year, $2.3 million deal that included a $1.1 million base salary.
Luton's elevation was expected with Carroll saying Saturday that Jacob Eason, claimed off waivers on Wednesday, had not learned enough of the offense yet to serve as the No. 2 quarterback against the Saints. This is Luton's second game-day elevation, so he'll have to be added to the 53-man roster indefinitely in order to play again this season.
For the Saints, Smith should help a depleted pass attack that ranks last in the NFL with just 24.0 pass attempts per game. The Saints have also been without receiver Michael Thomas (ankle) all season. And they will be without receiver Deonte Harris (hamstring) and quarterback/playmaker Taysom Hill (concussion) on Monday night.
Meanwhile, the reinforcements on the offensive line and in the defensive front seven should be especially key on a night in which wind and rain could be a factor in Seattle.
ESPN staff writer Mike Triplett contributed to this report.