Seahawks’ Bradley Sowell to miss a few weeks with MCL sprain, Thomas Rawls nearing return

RENTON – Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday that left tackle Bradley Sowell does not need surgery after spraining his MCL but that the injury will likely sideline him for a few weeks.

Sowell went down in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s 6-6 tie with Arizona Sunday night and had an MRI Monday. Carroll told “Brock and Salk” earlier in the day that the Seahawks are likely to replace him from within as opposed to acquiring a tackle either via a trade or off the street. One left tackle who was believed to be an option may not be after all as Browns coach Hue Jackson told reporters Monday that the team will not trade All-Pro Joe Thomas.

That was one of several significant personnel updates Carroll shared Monday. He also said during his afternoon press conference that he’s “very optimistic” about strong safety Kam Chancellor returning this week after missing the last two games with a groin injury and that running back Thomas Rawls is nearing his return from the cracked fibula that has sidelined him since Week 2. The timeline Carroll mentioned would have Rawls back in action for Seattle’s Monday night home game against Buffalo in Week 9.

“We are counting on him running this week and next week preparing to play,” Carroll said of Rawls. “That is what we are counting on unless something changes.”

Quinton Jefferson’s season may be over as Carroll said the rookie defensive tackle will have knee surgery. Jefferson, a fifth-round pick, was set to return last week after missing the Atlanta game following thumb surgery, but he injured his knee in practice.

Carroll didn’t have an update on linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis, who missed Sunday night’s game with a sprained ankle. Pierre-Louis suffered that injury the week before while making his first start of the season at strong-side linebacker. Cassius Marsh started there in his absence Sunday night.

Carroll’s comments when asked about Seattle’s options at left tackle suggested that undrafted rookie George Fant is the likeliest in-house candidate to take over, which he did Sunday night when Sowell went down. But Carroll didn’t commit to that, also mentioning veteran J’Marcus Webb as well as the possibility of moving right tackle Garry Gilliam back to the left side, which was Seattle’s plan for most of the offseason before pulling the plug during training camp.

Going with Fant would require a massive leap of faith given his inexperience, not just as a rookie but as someone who’s still new to football in general and his position in particular. Fant was a basketball player at Western Kentucky and played only one season on the football team. That was as a tight end, which means he’s as raw as they come.

Fant played 24 snaps after replacing Sowell Sunday night.

“George jumped in there, and we’ve been counting on young George to jump up at one of these times,” Carroll said. “We didn’t know when it was going to be. He did an admirable job for his first time ever, and we’ll see how he goes. We’ve got some choices. J’Marcus has moved around, played around. Of course Garry’s played over there. We have some things that we can work with. We’ll let you know that later on.”