The Seahawks got back a key defender for a key division game, while their lead tight end remained out.

Rayshawn Jenkins was active Sunday for the first time in five games, to play against the first-place Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West lead at Lumen Field. The starting safety came off the injured reserve list onto the active roster Saturday.

Jenkins missed the previous four games with a hand injury. In his absence, coach Mike Macdonald had practice-squad call-up Ty Okada as the third safety when the Seahawks went to “big nickel” alignments last weekend against San Francisco.

With Jenkins back, Macdonald used him early in Sunday’s game as an extra defensive back. Coby Bryant, the starter the last four games, started again against Arizona. Macdonald was using six defensive backs, with Jenkins and cornerback Josh Jobe the extra ones, on most third downs early against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals Sunday.

Safety K’Von Wallace missed his second consecutive game. He’s on injured reserve because of an ankle he injured on a kickoff in Seattle’s home loss to the Los Angeles Rams Nov. 3.

“We’re getting some depth back. We’re missing K’Von right now. But, Ty being able to step up, getting Rayshawn back...I mean, it’s just good problems to have,” Macdonald said. “Good players, (and they) play multiple spots.

“You don’t want to get too cute with it because then you get kind of in disarray a little bit. So, trying to maximize our continuity back there as well as seamlessly getting Rayshawn back into into the fold. So yeah, it’s exciting.”

Noah Fant out

Lead tight end Noah Fant was inactive. He had been questionable to play because of his groin injury. He practiced this week, including fully Friday.

Rookie AJ Barner has become the primary tight end while Fant has been out.

Kick returner inactive

When Dee Williams left the team’s win over the 49ers last weekend on the back of a cart, it appeared the rookie kickoff and punt returner might be out for a while.

But Williams returned to practice this week and was active to play Sunday.

Fellow kick returner and wide receiver Laviska Shenault did not play. He has an injured back.

Third running back Kenny McIntosh was in line to join Williams back deep to return kickoff Sunday.

Abe Lucas’ 2nd start

Abe Lucas made his second consecutive start, and second in 11 months, Sunday at right tackle in his return from winter knee surgery.

Lucas played 42 of 60 snaps the previous week at San Francisco. Rookie Mike Jerrell played one series in each half to rest Lucas. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said this past week he thought Lucas may be able to play the entire game Sunday against Arizona.

General manager John Schneider said on the Seahawks radio network’s pregame show before the Cardinals game the win that ended a six-game losing streak against the 49ers was “enormous.”

“Yeah, I was just so happy for everybody. Coaches, players, just everybody in the building,” Schneider said.

“Getting Abe back was huge for us, obviously. ... Geno’s resilience at the end of the game to just be able to finish was enormous.