Seahawks notebook: Preseason opener takes its toll
Aug 11, 2013, 1:52 PM | Updated: Aug 12, 2013, 10:31 am
By Danny O’Neil
RENTON – The Seahawks were still hurting three days after their preseason opener.
That was evident with a dozen players unable to participate in Sunday’s practice in addition to the six who haven’t been clear to practice. However, there is a difference in the NFL between the aches and pains that are an inevitable result of the game and injuries that can threaten a player’s spot on the roster. And while some of Seattle’s players were hurting, the only serious injury has been Percy Harvin’s hip, which required surgery.
“We can see everybody coming back,” coach Pete Carroll said.
Camp Carroll: Day 18 (Practice 13)
| Gear: | Helmets, shoulder pads, shorts |
| Practice: | 10 a.m. – noon |
| DNP: | WR Bryan Walters (hamstring), RB Christine Michael (back spasms), CB Ron Parker (hamstring), CB Byron Maxwell (ankle), LB Bruce Irvin (groin), DE Cliff Avril (hamstring), LB Ty Powell (leg bruise), T Mike Person (calf), DT Jaye Howard (shoulder), G James Carpenter (foot), TE Darren Fells (hamstring), DT Tony McDaniel (groin). | PUP: | WR Percy Harvin, TE Zach Miller, DE Chris Clemons, DL Greg Scruggs, CB Tharold Simon. | Non-football Injury list: | LB Korey Toomer (leg). | Quoteworthy: | Coach Pete Carroll said, “When you watch the whole film, I was real pleased that we looked like Seahawks. We played hard. We played good at the line of scrimmage. We wound up running the ball for a good amount of yards at the end. Finished strong, a lot of those kind of general things. I was really pleased that when you get through the ranks of the depth chart, everybody played pretty hard and played pretty well.” |
That’s good news since the list of those out from practice grew on Sunday, with rookie running back Christine Michael sitting out with back spasms and defensive lineman Jaye Howard – whom Carroll singled out for his play in San Diego – was out with a shoulder injury.
Tight end Zach Miller remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a sore foot but could be close to practicing by the end of this week, according to Carroll. Same for defensive end Cliff Avril, who hasn’t practiced in two weeks because of a sore hamstring.
Carroll said he didn’t necessarily need to see either of those two veterans in the third preseason game, which is the equivalent of a dress rehearsal, but admitted he would like to see how Avril meshes as a new addition to the defense.
“We know less about Cliff,” Carroll said, “but we’ve seen him so much on film that we understand him. It would be great to have him out there just for the continuity of everybody involved.”
Guard James Carpenter might require a little bit longer of a wait. He suffered a foot injury in practice last week, and Carroll indicated that it’s a bit more than a day-to-day situation.
“He’s still a couple of weeks away from being back on the field we think,” Carroll said. “It’s improving regularly. We know how the course of it’s going to go so we’re going to get him back, it’s just going to take a while. It’s unfortunate for him. It was so good to him out here on a regular basis just getting back into his football. It’s frustrating for him.”
The good news is that Carpenter – like the other players sitting out Sunday’s practice – won’t be out too long.
“They’re going to make it back out,” Carroll said, “It’s just frustrating and tough when they can’t compete for their own jobs and stuff. You can’t do anything about it.”
Turbin engine
Running back Robert Turbin practiced for the first time Sunday, returning a week after he cleared his physical. Turbin had missed the first 10 days of training camp with a sore foot.
“We’ve missed him,” Carroll said. “He has been just chomping at the bit. He had such a good first year, he’s a real big part of the young group on this team, and I’m excited that he’s back out there and he looked really good today. Of course, he had fresh legs and all that, it’s good to have him back out, really for him, too, because he has been frustrated.”
A fourth-round pick out of Utah State in 2012, Turbin gained 354 yards as a rookie, which included a 108-yard performance against Arizona in December. Turbin will not only be competing with Michael for carries behind starter Marshawn Lynch, but he figures to get a long look as the team’s third-down back in passing situations.
Notes
- • The highest passer rating from Sunday’s practice belonged to WR Sidney Rice, who completed a throw to RB Marshawn Lynch during the team’s 11-on-11 drills.
• LB Bruce Irvin is getting close to returning, and Carroll indicated he could be back practicing on Wednesday after the team takes a day off Tuesday.
