Brandon Browner, whose forced fumble and recovery was one of the biggest plays in last year’s win over the Panthers, may not be available when the Seahawks open the season back in Carolina because of a hamstring injury.
Browner didn’t practice for the second straight day, and will be a game-day decision according to Pete Carroll. Browner is officially listed as questionable on the injury report.
“We’re going to wait and see on game day, see how he does,” Carroll said.
If Browner can’t play, the two most likely options would be to either have Byron Maxwell simply take his place in the lineup, or to have nickel corner Walter Thurmond play on the outside in the base defense, then slide inside in the nickel package and have Maxwell come into the game in those situations.
Carroll wouldn’t say how that will play out other than to say, “Both those guys will play if he can’t go.”
Defensive end Cliff Avril will also be a game-time decision according to Carroll, though he is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury.
“He’s making it back,” Carroll said. “He had a very good week of practice. We’re going to take him up to game time and run him and see how he does then.”
The news is better on starting defensive tackles Brandon Mebane and Tony McDaniel, who are both listed as probable with groin injuries, and who both practiced fully the last two days. “Those guys look great. They finished the week practicing full go.”
As for receiver Percy Harvin, who earlier this week wrote on Twitter that he is targeting a Week 7 comeback, Carroll called that optimistic, but said Harvin is making good progress in his recovery from hip surgery.
“It was a real positive, optimistic thought from Percy, and I think he’s going to surprise doctors and all of that,” Carroll said. “He’s been extremely proactive, nothing but positive reports coming out. His attitude has been great about it in every way. He’s doing things twice a day here. He’s giving himself a chance to hit that mark. That’s optimistic, but he’s thinking it’s real, and we’re going with it and we’ll see what happens.”
On Chris Clemons, who is ruled out for this week, Carroll said the defensive end is making good progress: “He worked in the early parts of practice. Next week he’ll go full-go. He looks fine. It’s just a matter of him getting his confidence back and getting enough time pushing on big bodies and working against the resistance. In drill work, in space, all of that, he’s fine. He’s way ahead and we’re thrilled that he’s going to make it back likely in the next few weeks.”
Here are the official injury reports for both teams:
SEAHAWKS
Out: T Michael Bowie (shoulder, did not participate in practice), DE Chris Clemons (knee, didn’t participate), DT Jordan Hill (shoulder, didn’t participate)
Doubtful: DE Cliff Avril (knee, full participation)
Questionable: CB Brandon Browner (hamstring, didn’t participate)
Probable: WR Sidney Rice (knee, full participation), WR Stephen Williams (head, full), DT Brandon Mebane (groin, full), DT Tony McDaniel (groin, full)
PANTHERS
Out: RB Kenjon Barner (foot, didn’t participate), CB James Dockery (thumb, limited)
Doubtful: S Mike Mitchell (calf, didn’t participate)
Questionable: WR Domenik Hixon (hamstring, limited), G Amini Silatolu (hamstring, limited), DT Dwan Edwards (thigh, didn’t participate)
Probable: TE Ben Hartsock (foot, full), FB Mike Tolbert (hamstring, full), LB Jon Beason (knee, full).
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