Seahawks notebook: WR Doug Baldwin returns to practice, Kendricks gets ‘OK’ for Sunday

The Seahawks are preparing for their first divisional game of the season, and reporters had a chance to speak with head coach Pete Carroll Wednesday afternoon.

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Here are a few quick takeaways:

Mychal Kendricks will be available

The Seahawks will have linebacker Mychal Kendricks available for Sunday’s Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The news was first reported by Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times and confirmed by Carroll Wednesday.

Kendricks has an ankle injury that limited him in practice last week, but the primary concern heading into this week was whether a ruling on his suspension would end his season. The 27-year-old Kendricks was suspended by the league after pleading guilty to insider trading, but has been permitted to play for Seattle while he appeals.

The report is good news for a Seahawks team still short starting linebacker K.J. Wright (knee), who is unlikely to return Sunday.

“(Wright) is working his way back,” Carroll said. “He was going on a really good pace and then we needed to slow it down a little bit. So we’re going day-to-day with him now to see how he progresses.”

Kendricks has two sacks and nine tackles through two games.

Earl Thomas not expected to practice Wednesday

Carroll said Thomas usually takes Wednesdays off and will not participate in practice today. The head coach expects Thomas to return to practice Thursday.

Thomas missed three of four practice days last week. The All-Pro safety was candid when asked about his reasoning, which mainly focused on not having his contract extended past this season, following last Sunday’s win over the Cowboys.

“Yeah, I need to make sure my body is 100,” Thomas said. “I’m invested in myself. Now, if they was invested in me, I’d be out there practicing, but if I feel like anything – and I don’t give a damn if it’s small, I got a headache – I’m not practicing. But I don’t want that to be taken the wrong way. I know I’m going to get fined, but that’s just where I’m at with that.”

Doug Baldwin returns to practice

Wide receiver Doug Baldwin will make his first return to practice since suffering an MCL injury in Week 1.

“He’s going to practice today,” Carroll said. “It’s a great jump for him to make. He’s in the walk-through today, he’ll practice for the first time in a few weeks and he looks really good and light on his feet, and he looks pretty confident that he can have a chance to play this week, so we’ll see how that goes.

“He’s confident,” Carroll added. “That’s not a surprise. We’ll see if he can pull it off…. I’ve got to see him. He hasn’t practiced going full speed yet, so we’ll find out. But I’m really hopeful that he can do that. He’s really determined. Its been a frustrating process for him and he’s dying to get back out there.”

Seattle signed wide receiver Keenan Reynolds from the practice squad earlier this month to take Baldwin’s place, but Carroll told 710 ESPN Seattle that the offense has certainly felt Baldwin’s absence, particularly in third down situations.

Notes

• Carroll said guard Ethan Pocic (ankle) is feeling “way better today,” and “he’s hoping he can play this week, that’s what’s in his mind. Carroll said defensive end Dion Jordan is also hoping to play this weekend, but is dealing with “a core thing.”

• Center Justin Britt (shoulder) will return to practice. Britt was active for last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys but acted primarily as an emergency option behind backup center Joey Hunt, who played 100 percent of the snaps at the position.

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