Thomas Rawls misses 2nd consecutive practice, Christine Michael a more likely lead RB vs. SF

RENTON Thomas Rawls missed a second consecutive practice day with his bruised shin, increading the likelihood Christine Michael is the Seahawks’ main running back Sunday when they host the San Francisco 49ers.

Rawls got kicked in the side of the shin higher up the leg in the second quarter of last weekend’s 9-3 loss at Los Angeles. He did not return to the game, his second since he broke his ankle Dec. 13. Last season’s NFL leader in yards per carry as an undrafted rookie finished the Rams game with seven carries for minus-7 yards.

Rookie starting right guard Germain Ifedi remained out, though coach Pete Carroll said this week the team hoped to have its first-round draft choice perhaps practicing Friday. Ifedi still looks more likely to make his NFL regular-season debut Oct. 2 at the New York Jets, if at all before Seattle’s bye the following week.

That means J’Marcus Webb is expected to make his third consecutive start at right guard. Line coach Tom Cable said Webb, who began this month as the backup right tackle, has been improving each week after banging against Miami’s Ndamukong Suh Sept. 11 and Los Angeles’ Aaron Donald and friends last weekend.

“Slowly but surely, it’s coming,” Cable said. “Better this week than the first week, so you expect another step up this week.”

The Seahawks’ good injury news from practice: quarterback Russell Wilson (sprained ankle) and third-down running back C.J. Prosise (broken finger) were again full practice participants.

Wide receivers Doug Baldwin (who had a “twisted” knee, according to Carroll) and Tyler Lockett (sprained knee) plus tight end Jimmy Graham (still getting back to full health from knee surgery) and defensive end Cliff Avril (sore hamstring) all were full go in practice a day after being limited.

Expect all of them to play against the 49ers, though Prosise may be wearing a cast or at least a protective device on his hand while trying to catch passes. The former Notre Dame wide receiver missed last week’s loss at the Rams.

ROMAR, UW HUSKIES HOOPS TEAM, COSMOS HOST VISIT PRACTICE

The Seahawks hosted coach Lorenzo Romar and his Washington Huskies men’s basketball team for the sunny practice. Romar said it was the first time he’d been at the team’s headquarters along Lake Washington.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the New York native of the television series Cosmos fame, was also a guest at practice.

This story was originally published September 22, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Thomas Rawls misses 2nd consecutive practice, Christine Michael a more likely lead RB vs. SF."