Seahawks center Unger practices, status is day-to-day

RENTON Marshawn Lynch was on the Seahawks’ injury list for sitting out practice.

That means it’s time for Seattle-Tacoma’s weekly public-service announcement: Do not get alarmed by Lynch not practicing.

Seattle’s star running back missing Wednesday’s indoor workout at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center extended a streak that began in October. Since then, the Seahawks have held Lynch out of mid-week practices before each game – yet he still has missed just one game since Seattle acquired him in 2010. That was in October 2011 at Cleveland when his back tightened during pregame warmups and never loosened.

Max Unger is still a day-to-day proposition to return to play Sunday against the 49ers, according to coach Pete Carroll. The two-time Pro Bowl center has missed the last three games with a high-ankle sprain and twisted knee he got in the fourth quarter of the loss at Kansas City on Nov. 16. Lemuel Jeanpierre has started the last two games at center and has solidified the communication before snaps and thus the Seahawks’ pass protection somewhat, though quarterback Russell Wilson continues to scramble away from constant pressure from opposing pass rushers.

There is no doubt of Unger’s value to the offensive line and thus the Seahawks. In the two games he played between his sprained foot and then these latest leg injuries, Seattle rushed for a team-record 350 yards in a win against the New York Giants and then 200 more yards rushing in the first three quarters last month at Kansas City.

“Max is working. (He’s out) on the field … not quite full speed yet,” Carroll said of Unger. “So we’ll see what happens (Wednesday) and (Thursday) and just keep going one day at a time.”

Demarcus Dobbs also did not practice. He could be a candidate for injured reserve, given former Cincinnati Bengals practice-squad defensive end David King was in the Seahawks’ locker room Wednesday. King was Philadelphia’s seventh-round draft choice in 2013. The team has yet to announce his signing, pending him passing a physical.

Carroll again said Jeremy Lane’s return to health after missing the last two games gives the Seahawks flexibility at nickel defensive back. Starting cornerback Byron Maxwell has excelled at nickel on passing situations the last two games, and so has second-year cornerback Tharold Simon replacing Maxwell when Maxwell has moved inside against slot receivers.

BEVELL A BADGER AGAIN?

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was play-card deep in practice Wednesday when news broke that Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen had surprised college football by leaving to take the head job at Oregon State.

The 44-year-old Bevell was the quarterback for Wisconsin from 1992 through ’95. He was the Big Ten’s passing efficiency and touchdown-throws leader in ’93, the season he led the Badgers to a Rose Bowl win over UCLA and the No. 6 ranking in the country. His coach: Barry Alvarez, the current Wisconsin athletic director who will be hiring the Badgers’ next coach.

And he began his NFL coaching career as an assistant with Green Bay in 2000.

When told of the news of Wisconsin’s current opening following practice, Bevell was surprised. He’s been considered recently for NFL head jobs, including the one in Chicago filled by long-time league coordinator Marc Trestman.

Asked if he was interested in being a head man in college, Bevell said: “I mean, being a head coach someday is of interest to me. I would say I have thought about college. I don’t exactly at this point what it would be or where it would be.

“But I do feel like I want to be head coach someday.”

EXTRA POINT

The Seahawks signed DB Kennard Cox and RB Mike Zimmer to the practice squad.

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