Seahawks notebook: Injured starters return to practice

By Danny O’Neil

RENTON – The Seahawks’ offense is back to full strength.

Almost.

Well, at least it was for part of practice Wednesday as receiver Percy Harvin was on the field along with offensive linemen Max Unger, Russell Okung and Breno Giacomini. Giacomini was the only one of those four to finish practice, though.

Still, Wednesday was a step toward getting everyone up to speed.

“It’s exciting to see them slowly start to come back,” said Darrell Bevell, Seattle’s offensive coordinator. “Obviously, we’re still a work in progress with each and every one of them. They’re all kind of day-to-day, seeing how far they can get and what we can get to by the time the game gets here.”

Translation: Four starters took another step toward getting back on the field Sunday against Minnesota, but no one is quite there yet.

Not Harvin, who is on Seattle’s injury report for the first time because he’s now on the roster, but was limited. Not Okung nor Unger, who were also limited in practice. Giacomini finished out the practice as Seattle continues to progress toward getting back to being healthy.

“There’s a whole process that’s got to go on this week,” said Tom Cable, Seattle’s offensive-line coach. “As we put in the different parts of the game plan and everything, and kind of adapting them back into the workload and all that.”

The wait has been a little longer for Harvin, who has not played in more than a calendar year, having missed the final seven regular-season games in 2012 after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 9. This is only his fourth week of being eligible to practice, and the most extensive work he has gotten.

Still, no guarantees he will play against his former team this weekend.

“He’s ready to come out and work,” coach Pete Carroll said before practice. “That doesn’t mean he’s going to play in this game. We don’t know that yet. He’s got to make it through the practices so he feels 100 percent. He feels like he’s ready to go and go for it. He’s run really hard. I’ve seen him on the practice field a lot and watched him in his workouts, and he’s on it. It’s a pretty exciting time. We’re all encouraged.”

As for the chances of Harvin playing on Sunday?

“Check in with us tomorrow,” Carroll said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Bye-ing time

The Seahawks are last in line for a bye this season as they’ll get Week 12 off along with the Eagles, Bengals and Bills. It’s the latest Seattle has had its bye in any season since 2000, and Carroll was asked if that might play to Seattle’s advantage.

“Now that we’ve made it to this time, it’s great to have it this late,” Carroll said. “I would have told you that wherever it showed up, but at this point, though, it seems like we can take great advantage of it if we can fortunately get a big-time win this weekend and head into the bye with all of the guys that have returned to practice for us.”

Sherman sits out practice

Cornerback Richard Sherman did not practice Wednesday, missing the workout with what was described as a hip injury. Carroll did not mention the injury during his press conference, which took place before practice, and there was no clarification on Sherman’s status after the workout.

No timetable for Browner

Conerback Brandon Browner did not practice Wednesday and is almost certain not to play against Minnesota because of an injured groin, and there’s no timeline for when he will return.

“No further update on it,” Carroll said, “other than that it’s a pretty serious deal and we’ll take all week to figure out where it fits and see how he’s responding.”

Note

• CB Tharold Simon – who is on the team’s Physically Unable to Perform list – is expected to practice next week. The team will have three weeks in which to activate him to the 53-man roster or lose him for the year. There’s also a chance DL Greg Scruggs – who suffered a torn knee ligament and is also on the PUP list – may be ready to attempt a comeback this season.