Seahawks injury notes: Patrick Lewis’ availability for Thursday night’s game in question

RENTON – The Seahawks could be making another change a center, this time because of an injury.

Patrick Lewis made his first start of the season Sunday against Carolina but sustained injuries to his knee and ankle. Coach Pete Carroll said Monday afternoon that the Seahawks are awaiting MRI results that will help determine the severity of Lewis’ injuries and his chances of playing Thursday night against San Francisco.

“We’ll see how he does in a short week,” Carroll said. “I’m not sure if he’s going to make it back or not. So we’ll see.”

Drew Nowak started the first five games of the season and would presumably be the leading candidate to do so if Lewis can’t play. Seattle’s other in-house options are slim. Rookie Kristjan Sokoli is a converted defensive tackle who has practiced at both guard and center for Seattle and Will Pericak is a second-year player who’s on the practice squad. Lemuel Jeanpierre is a free agent and has plenty of experience having started 11 games over four seasons with Seattle, but even if the Seahawks had interest in him, the quick turnaround with a Thursday-night game could complicate matters.

Here are some more injury-related notes from Carroll’s media availability:

• Carroll said he’s hopeful that middle linebacker Bobby Wagner can play Thursday night after missing Sunday’s game with a pectoral injury. “We’ll see how it works out. He’s got to get through the day. There’s not going to be a lot of heavy duty work. Trainers think he’s got a chance to play for us.”

• Cornerback Tye Smith will return this week after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury but Carroll said it will be another week for nickelback Marcus Burley, who’s recovering from surgery on his broken thumb.

• Defensive end Frank Clark has a chance to return this week from the hamstring injury that sidelined him Sunday.

• Carroll said right tackle Garry Gilliam injured his ankle Sunday and that wide receiver/kick returner Tyler Lockett got hit in his hip, but he had no additional information about their statuses.

• Carroll was again noncommittal about whether or not wide receiver Paul Richardson will begin practicing this week, which he’s now eligible to do per rules pertaining to players on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Carroll said only, “We don’t have to make that decision yet.”

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