Sidney Rice ready to return to action

Oft-injured Sidney Rice is ready to return to action for the Seahawks (AP file)

It was a sight for sore eyes. Seahawks receiver Sidney Rice wearing a white jersey in practice for the first time as he continues recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

For the veteran, it’s a relief to take off the red jersey that keeps others from hitting him.

“I feel like if we had to go out right now I could do it,” Rice said in an interview with Bob and Groz.

But Rice’s first contact was unplanned and a bit embarrassing. It came when he ran into fellow receiver Braylon Edwards as the pair ran a crossing route during a no-contact drill.

“It actually felt pretty good, a little sore, which is expected. But nothing else,” Rice laughs.

Rice is considered an integral part of the receiving corps going into the 2012 season. But he’s optimistic the additions of Edwards and Terrell Owens will significantly improve the team’s passing game, especially with the veterans taking the pressure off the team’s younger receivers.

“You need that around a good group of young receivers, which we have a lot of.”

As for the ongoing QB controversy, Rice says although he looks forward to the starter being settled, he’s equally impressed by both Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson.

“You want to know. But for receivers we have a specific job and that’s to go out there and make plays, catch the ball and run the right route.”

Rice calls Wilson “very intelligent when it comes to football. He’s always talking football, always trying to figure out a way to get better.”

He has plenty of praise for Flynn as well.

“He knows what’s going on, knows the playbook and can make unbelievable throws down field. So it’s going to be interesting to see what happens this year.”

Rice just hopes he sees it from the field instead of the sidelines.