Seahawks lose Michael Bowie for the year with shoulder injury

RENTON – Michael Bowie began training camp in a head-to-head battle for the starting spot at right tackle.

That lasted less than a day, Bowie suffering a shoulder injury on the first day of practice that will require surgery and end his season.

“We’re going to miss him,” coach Pete Carroll said after the team’s scrimmage.

Technically, Bowie was waived/injured, a designation that means other teams can choose to claim Bowie with the knowledge that he is injured. (The Cleveland Browns did just that on Sunday.)

The injury is expected to keep Bowie out four-to-six months. The Seahawks are expected to add Cory Brandon, an offensive tackle let go by the Arizona Cardinals in the past few days.

It’s the third player the Seahawks have lost so far this season, following an Achilles injury to tight end Anthony McCoy and a knee injury for defensive lineman Jesse Williams. While none were projected as starters, all three could have played roles.

Last year, Bowie started eight games in the regular season and one in the playoffs. He was a seventh-round pick and was expected to compete with rookie Justin Britt – Seattle’s second-round choice – for the starting job this season.

But even before training camp, there were signs Seattle was considering alternatives at right tackle as the Seahawks signed veteran Eric Winston, who’s in his ninth season.

Winston wound up playing with the first-unit offense by the end of Saturday’s scrimmage as Britt watched with an ice bag on his left shoulder. Carroll did not specify the extent of Britt’s injury, saying only Britt’s shoulder was sore.

Nice to have a veteran like Winston in that case, according to Carroll.

“He has really done exactly what we would have hoped,” Carroll said. “Stabilized a little bit. Guy that has played. Of course he’s really bright, and he gets the game and all so he really helps us a lot, and he jumped right in there today and did a good job.”

Padding stats

Running back Marshawn Lynch did not participate in Saturday’s scrimmage, though he was wearing shoulder pads.

And while Carroll said it was good to have Lynch back, don’t expect to see too much too soon from the starting running back.

“It’s going to take a while to get him going,” Carroll said. “He has missed a lot of time in the offseason and all that. We’re going to take our time getting him in shape and all, but it’s nice to have him back.”

If the past is any indication, don’t expect Lynch to see much action – if any – during the team’s preseason games. He has carried a total of 16 times in the previous three preseasons combined.

Rookies reeling

After Britt left Saturday’s scrimmage, there was only one member of Seattle’s nine-man draft class still participating: fullback Kiero Small.

“The first eight, nine days got them a little bit,” Carroll said of the rookie draft class, “Wore them down a little bit, but fortunately, they’ve got a chance to come bouncing back here.”

Receiver Paul Richardson (shoulder) and defensive lineman Cassius Marsh (groin) are expected back practicing on Monday. That leaves plenty of other question marks, though, from Britt (shoulder) to linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (oblique) to receiver Kevin Norwood, whose sore foot has now sidelined him for a second time in less than a week.

Offensive lineman Garrett Scott, a sixth-round pick, is still with the team, but will not play after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition while defensive back Eric Pinkins, also a sixth-round pick, is on crutches with a lisfranc injury.