Ten of the 80 players currently on the team’s roster missed a portion of the team’s two practices on Friday.
The most severe might be center Chris Spencer, who suffered an ankle sprain while blocking defensive tackle Kevin Brown during a red-zone team drill toward the end of practice.
Spencer could not put any pressure on his ankle when helped off the field by the team’s training staff, and was carted back to the locker room for further evaluation.
For now, head coach Jim Mora said Spencer’s injury doesn’t look serious, but the team has to have it evaluated before making a more definitive determination.
“Fortunately it wasn’t his knee,” Mora said. “Early indications are that it’s not a high-ankle sprain. However, until you get the doctors in there examining them and give it some time to settle down, you can’t really tell. But hopefully it’s nothing serious.”
The first-round draft choice has had his share of injury problems since signing with Seattle in 2005.
Most recently, Spencer dealt with a back injury that had bothered him since training camp. He finally succumbed to the pain, going on the injured reserve in December. Spencer played in 11 games last season, and has yet to reach the potential the Seahawks envisioned when they selected him as the 26th overall choice in 2005.
If Spencer is out for a long time, expect to see Steve Vallos and rookie Max Unger share snaps with the first unit.
Vallos started the last five games of the 2008 season in place of Spencer, and did a serviceable job. Unger, a University of Oregon product, was drafted in the second round this year to add depth to the interior line and possibly to compete for a starting job.
The Seahawks like Unger’s athleticism and feel for the game, and believe Unger has the potential to be a long-term fixture on the offensive line.
Along with Spencer, Walter Jones and Marcus Trufant remain unavailable for practice with back injuries. Wide receiver Deion Branch missed three days of practice with swelling in his surgically repaired knee but returned to practice Friday. And Ray Willis has been receiving periodic rest for his ailing knees.
Linebacker Well Herring (groin) and defensive end Michael Bennett (shoulder) also are currently out.
The growing list of injured players is not a good omen for Seattle, which finished among the teams with the highest number of players on the injured list last season.
Seahawks training camp
Under the lights at UW
The Seahawks were at Husky Stadium for their evening practice, an event that was open to the public. It gave Mora a chance to return to the field where he played for the Huskies in the early 1980s.
“If (fans) were there for the opening kickoff they might have seen me,” quipped Mora, who played mostly special teams for the Huskies. “I love going back there. It’s a place where I have very fond memories, some great games and some great teams.”
Still no Curry
The Seahawks’ first-round pick Aaron Curry missed his eighth day of training camp Friday. However, the Seahawks and Curry could have received a jump-start to negotiations, with Kansas City signing No. 3 overall pick Tyson Jackson to a five-year, $57 million deal – which included $31 million in guaranteed money.
The Seahawks, who drafted Curry No. 4 overall, were believed to be waiting for Jackson to sign in order to view a comparable contract to help with the Curry negotiations.
Injury update
Chris Spencer (ankle), Walter Jones (back), Marcus Trufant (back), Will Herring (groin), Michael Bennett (shoulder), and D.D. Lewis (knee) did not participate in the evening practice. Deion Branch (knee) sat out the morning practice but returned for the evening session, as did Ray Willis. Lance Laury (knee) also returned to practice after sitting on Thursday.
DT Cole coming along
Seahawks defensive tackle Colin Cole said he is adjusting well to his new role as the run stuffer. Cole said he and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu have developed a good working relationship during the first week of training camp. Cole’s role is important, as it allows Brandon Mebane to assume more of a pass-rushing role from the defensive tackle position, along with keeping the offensive guards off Tatupu so he can run freely to the ball.
Eric D. Williams, The News Tribune
