Seahawks notes: CB Tharold Simon among players held out Wednesday
Jun 1, 2016, 3:35 PM
Tharold Simon, whose Seahawks career has been plagued by injuries, was held out of Wednesday's OTA. (AP)
(AP)
RENTON – The Seahawks held their fifth of nine Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Wednesday, the second of which has been open to the media. Here are a few personnel notes:
Seahawks post-practice videos: Richard Sherman | Justin Britt | Tom Cable
• As was the case last Thursday, during the first open OTA, Seattle’s offensive line was missing two projected starters: right tackle J’Marcus Webb and left tackle Garry Gilliam. Webb is dealing with what offensive-line coach Tom Cable described as a “pretty severe” calf strain. He said Webb could be ready to begin practicing next week. Gilliam, meanwhile, recently had a cyst removed from his knee. Both players watched practice Wednesday as free-agent addition Bradley Sowell took most of the reps with the first team at left tackle while Terry Poole, a 2015 fourth-round pick, played right tackle. Justin Britt was at center with Mark Glowinski and first-round pick Germain Ifedi at left and right guard, respectively.
• Britt, Cable and cornerback Richard Sherman spoke to the media afterward. Britt talked about his move to center, which is his third position switch in as many seasons going back to his rookie year in 2014, when he started at right tackle after playing left tackle as a senior at Missouri. Cable talked about the reasoning for the switch and what he’s seen from Britt, among other topics. He stressed repeatedly that there’s only so much that can be gleaned from an OTA practice, where the goal is to get ready for training camp as opposed to a regular-season game. Sherman talked about the state of Seattle’s secondary compared to the last two years, when the depth and availability wasn’t as strong as it is now due to injuries and free-agent departures.
• One defensive back who was not available, at least on Wednesday, was cornerback Tharold Simon. He watched from the sideline with a bucket hat on his head. Pete Carroll wasn’t available to the media afterward, so there was no word on Simon’s status or the severity of whatever kept him out on Wednesday (Simon practiced last Thursday during the first open OTA). It will be something to monitor given Simon’s lengthy injury history – he has essentially missed two and a half of his first three seasons – but one missed practice isn’t necessarily a cause for major concern yet.
• Defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Chris Clemons were absent, as they were last Thursday. It’s not a surprise in Bennett’s case given his well-documented contract situation and the reality that OTAs are voluntary. Carroll noted as much last week when asked about Clemons’ absence. Players are not contractually required to attend until mandatory minicamp, which Seattle will hold June 14-16.
• The Seahawks’ final four OTAs are scheduled for Friday and then next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Thursday session will be open to the media but the other three will be closed.
