Photos
For the fourth consecutive year, the Seahawks will open the season with a different starting offensive line than the projected unit they had penciled in at the beginning of training camp.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said veteran offensive guard Robert Gallery doubtful for Sunday’s game at San Francisco after the 6-foot-7, 325-pounder watched practice from the sidelines for a fourth day this week.
With Gallery all but ruled out for Sunday because of a sprained right knee, rookie James Carpenter will start at left guard, with Breno Giacomini stepping in for Carpenter at right tackle.
So Seattle’s likely starting offensive line will be Russell Okung at left tackle, Carpenter at left guard, Max Unger at center, John Moffitt at right guard and Giacomini at right tackle – with a combined 27 starts among them.
But Carroll said he isn’t too concerned.
“It is what it is,” he said. “There’s no reason to spend any time on it. Even though Max has been around a long time, he hasn’t played a lot of football. We’re just young. That’s what it is. I’m thrilled about that.
“In one way to look at it, if these guys can go out there and play NFL football this early and if we can hold up and start growing, we’re going to get way better. So it’s exciting and we’re hoping right now they’re going to go out there and play a good football game and give us a chance to win. I won’t be surprised if they do.”
Seattle receiver Sidney Rice also is doubtful with a sore shoulder. Rice did some route running and individual drills early in practice with trainers to test his shoulder, but Carroll seemed to be leaning toward having Rice sit out Sunday.
“He ran around and caught balls and all that stuff,” Carroll said. “But we need to protect him and take care of him, so likely he won’t go.”
When asked if he thought Rice’s shoulder could be more serious – similar to what tight end John Carlson went through after eventually needing shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum – Carroll said he believes Rice’s case is different, and that his shoulder is improving.
“This doesn’t seem to be the same thing,” Carroll said. “But if we don’t get him out here this week, probably by the end of next week we’ll know if he’s really responding. It feels way better. He’s able to do a lot of things and run full speed.”
Defensive end Chris Clemons did not practice for a second consecutive day after tweaking his ankle in the team’s walk-through Thursday, but Carroll said that he expects the Georgia product to play Sunday. He’s listed as probable.
Carroll said middle linebacker David Hawthorne (knee) is ready to go after he made it through his second consecutive practice. However, there’s no guarantee that Hawthorne will start Sunday as rookie K.J. Wright took most of the work with the first unit this week. Hawthorne is listed as probable.
Rookie offensive tackle Jarriel King did not practice because of an ankle injury and is listed as out on the injury report.
HARGROVE TO SIGN
Free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove indicated through his Twitter account Friday night he will sign with Seattle this weekend.
If Hargrove signs by today, which is expected, he would be eligible to play in Sunday’s game at San Francisco. Seattle would have to release a player to clear a spot for Hargrove on the 53-man roster.
Hargrove was released by Philadelphia during final roster cuts last week.
A third-round pick out of Georgia Tech by St. Louis in 2004, Hargrove played three years for the Rams and two in Buffalo before drugs got the best of him.
But after overcoming his drug abuse and a lengthy NFL suspension, Hargrove resurfaced with New Orleans in 2009, finishing with 42 tackles and five sacks during the Saints’ Super Bowl run.
At 6-2, 275 pounds, Hargrove is a high-motor guy who could serve as a replacement for Jimmy Wilkerson, who wound up on the season-ending injured reserve after suffering a knee injury during Seattle’s final exhibition game against Oakland.
Hargrove, 28, appears to have the ability to play defensive end on early downs, and move inside as a pass rusher on third down.
Carroll said this week that the Seahawks were looking for someone with a similar skill set to Wilkerson.
“We don’t have a guy like Jimmy,” Carroll said during his Wednesday news conference. “Jimmy had an expertise of playing defensive end on early downs and going inside. We don’t have a guy just like that, so we’re going to use a combination of guys to rush and see what we can find out.”
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
SUNDAY
Seattle at San Francisco, 1:15 p.m., Ch. 13, 1240-AM, 1030-AM
