Seahawks notebook: Carpenter dealing with foot injury

By Danny O’Neil

RENTON – Guard James Carpenter didn’t exactly start this week on the right foot, leaving the field midway through Monday’s workout.

There is some good news, however, since it was Carpenter’s foot – and not his knee – that is the area of concern. Carpenter was not on the field for practice Tuesday morning, and coach Pete Carroll’s next media availability is Wednesday

Carpenter suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through his rookie season in 2011, returned last year and played seven games before he went on injured reserve against because of that knee. He had arthroscopic surgery in the offseason, missing some of the offseason training, but was ready when training camp began.

Carpenter weighs 340 pounds and has been practicing at left guard behind starter Paul McQuistan. It remains to be seen how much of a setback this injury will be for Carpenter, but it would be a positive sign if it’s his foot that’s bothering him as opposed to his knee.

In his father’s footsteps

Quarterback Russell Wilson may be playing in San Diego for the first time in the NFL, but he’s got some history there.

His father was a Charger in 1980, a receiver who had played football at Dartmouth but delayed his NFL ambitions to attend law school at the University of Virginia. He was dubbed “The Professor” by his Chargers teammates, caught a touchdown pass in a preseason game and was the last player San Diego cut coming out of training camp that year.

“To be able to go back there and think about those memories,” Wilson said, “he didn’t play there for very long, but still it means a lot to me.”

Muscling in

Phil Bates and Chris Harper are not only two similarly sized receivers, but they are a pair of players who began their college careers as quarterbacks only to transfer schools and change positions.

Harper started off at Oregon before transferring back closer to home, playing for Kansas State and getting drafted by Seattle in the fourth round of this year’s draft. Bates, an undrafted free agent in 2012, began his college career at Iowa State before transferring to Ohio, where he became a receiver.

Harper is listed at 234 pounds, Bates at 221, and they’re competing to be that outside receiver who can outmuscle defensive backs. While most would assume Harper will make the team because of his draft position, Bates has made a strong impression and is someone to keep an eye on.

“Phil is more and more aggressive every day,” Wilson said. “That’s one of the things I’ve been trying to push him with and to talk to him about. Because he’s got huge hands, he’s got long arms. He’s a strong kid so if he goes and just attacks the football and has that mentality – ‘I’m going to get this every single time the ball comes to me, no matter what the situation’ – and that’s what he’s been doing … he’s really attacked the football.”

Bates had two pivotal catches during the team’s simulated game last Friday.

Notes

• LB Bruce Irvin has not practiced this week because of a sore groin, and won’t be expected to play in Thursday’s preseason game at San Diego.

• RB Christine Michael walked off the field midway through Tuesday’s practice. There is no word on his status.