Hawthorne appeared to move OK during team drills. He’s listed as questionable on Seattle’s injury report. However, coach Pete Carroll expects his starting middle linebacker to play Monday against St. Louis.
“We think he’s going to be all right,” Carroll said. “He looked OK today. I think it was a good effort to rest him, to get him strong for the week.”
Hawthorne said getting the added time off his legs will be beneficial.
“I think it helps out a lot,” Hawthorne said. “With my situation, time is key, and the most time I can get off and just let my body heal is always a positive.”
Hawthorne has been coping with a sprain of his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee since the Seahawks’ second exhibition game in August.
The sprain caused Hawthorne to miss the team’s regular-season opener at San Francisco, but he has started 11 consecutive games since then and has 78 tackles to lead Seattle for a third straight season. He also has three interceptions and a sack.
The former TCU player said he aggravated the knee injury a few weeks ago against Washington. He took a hit to the knee and was forced to leave the game, but he later returned.
“When I’m out there I ain’t even thinking about it,” Hawthorne said. “I get the adrenaline going, and I just go.
“It’s a situation where it ain’t going to get no better until I get a chance to completely rest. So I’m just grinding through it, and I’m willing to do that for the boys. And if I can go, I’ll go.”
Hawthorne, who has been wearing a bulky brace to protect the injury, said he doesn’t believe he’ll need surgery after the season.
INJURY UPDATE
Along with Hawthorne, defensive end Raheem Brock (calf), cornerback Kennard Cox (hamstring) and cornerback Byron Maxwell (illness) are questionable. Hawthorne, Brock and Maxwell were all full participants in practice, while Cox was limited. Carroll said that Maxwell, who’s been inactive the last two weeks while recovering from pneumonia, could get an opportunity to play Monday. … For St. Louis, quarterback A.J. Feeley (right thumb) and kick returner Quinn Porter (abdomen) did not practice and have been ruled out. Defensive tackle Fred Robbins (back) and fullback Brit Miller (knee) did not practice and are questionable. Quarterback Sam Bradford (ankle) and defensive end Chris Long (ankle) were limited participants and are listed as questionable. Offensive tackle Mark LeVoir (chest), defensive end Eugene Sims (ankle) and tight end Lance Kendricks (non-injury related) are probable.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
