When Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett was asked last week whether the team missed Kam Chancellor, he offered a telling response.

"We miss Kam Chancellor, not just the way that he plays, but the way that he approaches the game, his leadership," Bennett said.

"At the end of the day, we all want Kam to come back. We all understand what his fight is. And we all want him to get his just due. And he is one of the best safeties to play the game, so I think we miss him. We just miss his love. He's our brother."

Now the Seahawks get their brother back. Chancellor texted ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on Wednesday that the holdout is over and business can wait until after the season.

There's no doubt Chancellor's absence has been felt on the field. Though the Seahawks' defense played better in Week 2, it has given up 11 pass plays of 20-plus yards, second-most in the NFL. Dion Bailey won the strong safety job coming out of training camp, but he did not perform well in the opener, and coach Pete Carroll decided to go with DeShawn Shead in Week 2.

Cornerback Richard Sherman was asked a couple of weeks ago whether his support for Chancellor would ever waiver.

"No, you just keep supporting," Sherman said. "He's still a friend, he's still a teammate, and you support him. You understand that he's sacrificed, and he's done what he had to do to get to this point, so you continue to support him. Obviously, it's a tough spot for him to be in, but that's all you can do."

Carroll said Monday that nothing had changed, but apparently since then, Chancellor decided now would be a good time to return. He gave up a couple of game checks of $267,647 for missing the first two weeks.

Suddenly, some of the gloom that surrounded the Seahawks' 0-2 start has disappeared. The team has back-to-back home games against the Bears and Lions. A week after facing Aaron Rodgers, the defense will now be planning for Jimmy Clausen. Detroit's Matthew Stafford is banged-up as well.

There are still issues that need fixing -- getting Marshawn Lynch going, improving along the offensive line, figuring out Jimmy Graham's role, etc.

But with Chancellor back, the Seahawks' defense, which has shaped the identity of the team in recent years, is healthy and has its leader back. That is the biggest reason to be optimistic for a turnaround in the weeks ahead.