Seahawks activate Thomas Rawls from PUP list

RENTON – The Seahawks have activated running back Thomas Rawls off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, a significant step in his return from the broken ankle that has sidelined him since December.

That transaction became official on Sunday. Rawls is now eligible to practice. He didn’t take part in the team’s morning scrimmage, only doing light work on the field beforehand. Coach Pete Carroll said he’ll be eased back into action starting this week.

“He looks like he’s really ready to go,” Carroll said. “He’s really anxious about it. He’s been working very hard. I don’t know if we’ll be able to work him as hard in practice as they’ve been rehabbing him, so he should be ready to go.”

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Tight end Jimmy Graham remains on PUP. Carroll answered in the affirmative when asked if Graham is close to being activated, but noted that the injuries and rehab processes for Graham and Rawls have been “totally different.” Graham had knee surgery to repair the patellar tendon he tore in November. Rawls also needed surgery for his injury, which included some ligament damage in addition to the fracture.

“They both have worked extremely hard, but we’re just going to take a little bit more time with Jimmy,” Carroll said.

Rawls’ return to practice will provide a major reinforcement for a backfield that has been decimated by injuries over the first week of training camp. Rookie tailbacks C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks (hamstrings) have been on the sideline. Fullbacks Brandon Cottom (Achilles) and Tre Madden (shoulder) have been lost for the season. That has left veteran Christine Michael and rookie Alex Collins as the last men standing among that group, and Michael didn’t take part in Sunday’s scrimmage due to what Carroll said was an illness.

While Rawls is now cleared to practice, Carroll stressed that the Seahawks will take things slow. Based on his comments, as well as the timetables Seattle typically follows with players coming off serious injuries, it would not be surprising if the team held Rawls out until the third preseason game.

“We’re not going to rush him at all. We’ll take our time,” Carroll said. “We’re just going to get him to feel his confidence and get that back. It’s great to see him back out there. I know it means a lot to him, too. He’s worked so hard to get here. Now he finally crosses this threshold where he’s back with his teammates. It’s a good deal.”

Here are some more personnel notes from Sunday:

• Carroll said strong safety Kam Chancellor (groin), defensive end Frank Clark (calf) and defensive tackle Jordan Hill (groin) should all return to practice on Tuesday following the players’ day off Monday. Those three all missed time last week and did not scrimmage Sunday.

• Also sitting out on Sunday were five wide receivers: Doug Baldwin, Kasen Williams, Kevin Smith, Deshon Foxx and Antwan Goodley. Carroll said Baldwin’s Achilles is still sore from being stepped on last week but that there’s no damage to the tendon and that it’s not something that should last very long. The other four had hamstring injuries, Carroll said.

• In addition to Cottom and Madden, three other injured Seahawks cleared waivers and reverted to the team’s Injured Reserve list: tight ends Cooper Helfet and Ronnie Shields and defensive end David Perkins.