Notebook: DE Ziggy Ansah practices for first time with Seahawks

There were a few positive injury updates for the Seahawks Tuesday, but perhaps none was more encouraging than defensive end Ziggy Ansah, who practiced with Seattle for the first time since signing with the team in May.

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The 30-year-old entered Seattle’s offseason with an existing shoulder injury — a large part of the reason the Seahawks were able to sign him so late in the offseason — and had a brief setback in his recovery after suffering a groin injury. Now, Carroll said both injuries have healed (and the shoulder is, presumably, back to full strength).

“(We’re) really happy to get him out,” head coach Pete Carroll said of Ansah. “It’s been a long, rigorous return and he’s busted his tail and he’s made it. We were hoping he’d make it before the final week (of the preseason), which he did. And so we’ll take it and see how far we can go.”

Also practicing with the team was rookie safety Marquise Blair, who was carted off the field during Seattle’s Week 3 win over the Chargers with  back spasms, the product of a back bruise that Carroll likened to a hip-pointer. Assuming Blair can make it through the week, he’ll play quite a bit in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Oakland Raiders.

Second-year linebacker Shaquem Griffin (bruise knee) also returned to practice.

Still out, however, are left guard Mike Iupati, rookie wide receiver DK Metcalf, and center Joey Hunt. Carroll said Iupati (calf) is making progress in his recovery, but “it’ll be a race” to be ready for Seattle’s Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Iupati is unable to play, Seattle will presumably start third-year pro Ethan Pocic, who has been getting first-team reps in Iupati’s place.

Carroll hinted Metcalf could see more activity this week.

“We have really high hopes that he’s going to make a really fast return,” Carroll said of Metcalf, who underwent knee surgery last Tuesday. “We just need to see how he goes one day at a time. So he did some more stuff today, and all through this week he’ll be working to get him ready for next week to see how far he can take it. We don’t know at this time, but we’re very optimistic about a really quick return.”

Hunt has a high-ankle sprain.

Carroll also clarified last week’s injury to wide receiver David Moore as a non-displaced fracture in his upper humorus (upper arm bone).

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