Seahawks hope Chris Matthews, Tarvaris Jackson return next week

RENTON – Here are some Seahawks personnel updates to come out of coach Pete Carroll’s post-practice media availability on Thursday:

• Wide receiver Chris Matthews is on track to return next week, Carroll said. Matthews sprained the AC joint in his shoulder during Seattle’s first preseason game and missed a week and a half of practice. “He got out there today for the first time so he looks like he’s got a chance to make it back next week,” Carroll said. “He should be able to play next week for us.”

• The same applies to backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who sustained a high ankle sprain in the preseason opener and hasn’t practiced since. “The hope is that he can get back next week and get a little play time before we start it up,” Carroll said.

• Carroll’s comments about Earl Thomas sound like another sign that the team expects the All-Pro free safety to be available to play in the season opener on Sept. 13. Thomas had offseason shoulder surgery and returned to practice last week. “Earl got a lot of work this week. He’s getting ready to be in shape to play for the opener,” Carroll said. “His timing is getting down, his calls, you can see him fitting in, his intensity that he brings is starting to show up. That’s important.”

• Carroll said linebacker Bruce Irvin will play Saturday, which means he’s made it through the league-mandated concussion protocol.

• Carroll said cornerback Tharold Simon is “in good shape” to make his preseason debut Saturday. Simon also had offseason shoulder surgery and was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list last week. Fellow cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Will Blackmon are also expected to make their preseason debuts Saturday.

• Another cornerback, Mohammed Seisay, is back after missing a week and a half due to a groin injury he sustained in the first preseason game. Seisay was acquired in a trade with Detroit at the start of training camp and was making a good first impression before his injury. Carroll: “I liked him. I really liked him. He looked the part physically, he ran well, made some plays early on. Just a shame for him that he hasn’t had a chance to show. He was making very, very good progress. I don’t know if we’ll get to play him this week or not but next week will be a big week for him, of course.”

• Rookie safety Ryan Murphy has returned to practice after spraining his ankle during the first week of training camp. Carroll said Murphy has a chance to play Saturday. “This is really important for Ryan. He just has had so few, limited opportunities to make sense of anything. So we’re anxious to see if he can get out there and do some stuff, special teams as well. He looks like a good football player. We’ve just got to wait and see what happens here.”

• Defensive tackle Jesse Williams will play Saturday. He has played in Seattle’s first two preseason games despite only recently starting to practice following surgery in May to remove a cancerous kidney. “Jesse was sick so he missed a little time here, but he’s back in action today and ready to play,” Carroll said. “I’m really anxious to see Jesse do his thing. Under the circumstances he’s been involved with, this is amazing that he’s come through and is working so hard and doing so well. He’s got a chance to help us. We’ve always looked for the big steady dude in there to get in the combination of our rotation. He’s got a chance to do that. He’ll get a good chance again this week.”