Seahawks easing Thomas Rawls back into practice; Jimmy Graham ‘really close’ to returning

RENTON – The Seahawks are taking things slow with running back Thomas Rawls as he returns to practice from the broken ankle that cut his rookie season short.

Coach Pete Carroll said that would be the case over the weekend, when the Seahawks activated Rawls off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list once he passed his physical. And it was evident on Tuesday as Rawls only did light work during practice. He went through warmups with the team and then worked off to the side with a trainer, going through a series of sprints and agility drills. But that was about it.

“It feels good to be back out here with the fellas, feeling the crowd and also the boys out there and just to get some high-fives and slaps on the behinds and stuff like that,” he said afterward. “I’m very excited to be back out here.”

That was obvious. Rawls was seen hugging teammates at the start of practice. He beamed while speaking a mile a minute about being back on the field with them.

Less clear is when the Seahawks will deem Rawls ready to play in a game. He will almost certainly miss Seattle’s preseason opener Saturday against Kansas City and probably the next one, too. Carroll didn’t commit to Rawls playing at all in the preseason. Rawls didn’t either.

“Right now, I’m day to day,” Rawls said when asked if he’s hoping to play in any preseason games. “I’m doing real good, and that’s it.”

Rawls mentioned that he’s “day to day” whenever he was asked anything about his status, such as whether or not he thinks he’ll be ready by Week 1.

“I’m taking it day by day,” he said. “I can just say I’m a hard worker and I’m very tenacious and I don’t want to let these guys down, so I’m doing everything in my power to get back out here. Excited to be out here.”

Carroll said it’s not necessarily imperative for Rawls to play at all in the preseason.

“We’ll see. Let’s just give us a couple weeks. There’s plenty of time here. We’ll figure it out,” Carroll said. “I’m sure he’s going to be chomping at the bit by the last preseason game, at least, if not sooner. But I don’t think it’s going to matter one way or another.”

Here are some more personnel notes from Tuesday:

• Tight end Jimmy Graham did some work on the field with trainers following practice. He’s still on PUP, but Carroll answered in the affirmative when asked if he’s close to being activated: “He’s so frustrated to not be back out. He’s right at the edge of getting back. He’s really close, yeah.”

• Former Huskies pass-rusher Josh Shirley is back with the Seahawks. He had been signed to a futures contract after last season and was later waived. The team announced his re-signing on Tuesday and that defensive end Tavaris Barnes was waived with an injury designation. Carroll said Shirley is working at the Leo defensive-end spot.

• Rookie defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson didn’t practice Tuesday. Carroll said he has a sore knee but should be fine for Saturday’s preseason opener. Running back Alex Collins also had the day off due to a sore ankle, Carroll said.

• Safety Kam Chancellor (groin), running back Christine Michael (illness), defensive end Frank Clark (groin) and linebacker Brock Coyle (oblique) all practiced to some degree Tuesday after missing time last week and/or over the weekend. Among those who remained out were wide receivers Doug Baldwin (Achilles), Kasen Williams (hamstring), Kevin Smith (hamstring), defensive tackle Jordan Hill (groin), running backs C.J. Prosise (hamstring) and Zac Brooks (hamstring).

• Carroll said defensive tackle Sealver Siliga (calf) is “really close” and could get some work in later this week. Siliga has yet to practice in training camp as he’s on the Non-Football Injury list.

• Cornerback George Farmer got some more time at running back, where Seattle’s depth has taken a severe hit over the last week with injuries. Carroll called Farmer a “fantastic athlete” and noted that he has experience at several positions, including wide receiver and running back in addition to defensive back. Carroll said the Seahawks are looking at Farmer as a potential third-down back.