RENTON ? There was a lot of talent standing off to the side on the first day of Seattle Seahawks training camp.
Strong safety Kam Chancellor (hip), linebackers Malcolm Smith (ankle) and Bruce Irvin (hip), and left tackle Russell Okung (foot), all of whom underwent offseason surgeries, did not participate in practice.
Chancellor and Okung took part in a pre-practice walk-through, and they and Smith were able to run and do conditioning work, and their full participation does not sound far off.
?As always at this time, we’ll really be patient,? head coach Pete Carroll said. ?Russell (Okung) got a little bit of work today in the walk-throughs. He’s just days away from kind of proving it ? it might take, if we’re conservative, a couple weeks. Kam Chancellor is really close and ready to go.?
It will be a while longer for Irvin, who, along with linebacker Korey Toomer (hamstring) was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list. They can come off that list at any point during camp. Irvin is unlikely to be ready before the end of camp on Aug. 13.
The setback for Toomer ? who was touted by Carroll as one of the stars of earlier offseason workouts ? is significant. He missed last season because of shoulder surgery and was just starting to push his way into consideration for playing time.
Trumping all of those injuries was the walking boot on rookie safety Eric Pinkins’ foot. A couple days ago, the Seahawks discovered Pinkins had a Lisfranc injury. He’ll be out 4-6 weeks, if not longer. Pinkins was placed on the non-football injury/reserve list.
With Chancellor out, Jeron Johnson was the starting strong safety. Alvin Bailey started at left tackle in place of Okung.
Harvin feeling good
The throw was low and dropped. Percy Harvin had just botched a quick screen that would have been a lateral, but scooped up the ball to see what he could make happen. In a condensed space, he blew past four defenders before being touched.
That’s a distinct change from last year at this time when Harvin was sitting with doctors inside the Seahawks’ training headquarters being consulted on options for his ailing hip.
The subsequent surgery stole almost the entire season from Harvin. Friday, he said he felt good head to toe, which essentially means the Seahawks picked up a dynamic player in the offseason.
?I’m looking forward to putting everything together and being the monster I know I can be,? Harvin said. ?So everything is going good so far and hopefully it stays that way.?
Harvin is trying to get rid of his ?injury prone? label. The past two seasons, he’s played a total of just 10 games.
Rice’s retirement
Even after tearing his ACL midway through last season, wide receiver Sidney Rice was around the team. Not seeing him Friday when camp opened was noticeable.
Rice, 27, decided Thursday to retire following seven seasons in the NFL.
?The conversation just came up really the day before,? Carroll said. ?He came up and we started talking about it. He got the word to us. He was real serious about it. He took his time figuring it out and I think he’s making a great choice. He’s evaluated very clearly. He’s had a series of injuries and problems staying healthy. He’s had a number of concussions and that goes in to it as well and so he’s very comfortable with the decision.
?Of course, he’s lamenting that he’s not going to be able to play and all of that, but I think he feels strongly that he’s making a good decision and so we support the heck out of him. We’ll miss him and he’ll always be a part of us.?
Pains on the O-line
With Okung out and Michael Bowie injuring his shoulder early in practice, the Seahawks’ top offensive line, from left to right, was Alvin Bailey, James Carpenter, Max Unger, J.R. Sweezy and rookie Justin Britt.
Britt is in a competition with Bowie to replace the departed Breno Giacomini at right tackle.
After rotating snaps at left guard last season with Paul McQuistan, who was not re-signed, Carpenter has the spot to himself early on. He’s lost weight and again received praise from Carroll for making a strong effort in the offseason to get in better shape.
Extra points
Rookie wide receiver and former Washington standout Kevin Smith caught a deep touchdown pass Friday. ? Offensive lineman Stephen Schilling received several snaps at center. ? Defensive end Greg Scruggs was limited during practice and seemed to be bothered by his surgically repaired knee. Scruggs tore his ACL last year and missed the season. ? The Seahawks pushed their roster back to 90 members after signing guard C.J. Davis and wide receiver David Gilreath.
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