RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks are in the first week of their organized team activities, better known as OTAs, and coach Pete Carroll hit the nail on the head with his opening statement following Thursday’s session at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center:
“We almost have the full house — not quite.”
Thursday’s OTA was the third of nine that take place over a three-week span, but the first open to the media. Therefore, it was the first chance to take a roll call, and although the Seahawks had near-perfect attendance, there were a few notable names that were absent.
OTAs are voluntary for the players, though they are strongly encouraged to attend, and defensive ends Michael Bennett and Chris Clemons chose to take advantage of their voluntary nature.
Bennett is coming off a Pro Bowl season. However, he’s been vocal about his displeasure with his contract. His absence was expected, but Carroll said he expects Bennett to be present for mandatory veteran minicamp, which takes place June 14-16.
“I think that’s the plan,” Carroll said. “He’s working really hard, he’s sent me videos of his workouts and stuff like that. We’re staying in touch. We’d love to have him here, but that’s his choice.”
Clemons, who spent 2010-13 with the Seahawks before leaving as a free agent to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, returned to Seattle this offseason after signing a one-year free-agent deal. Clemons had a history of missing voluntary activities during his first stint with the Seahawks.
“Chris has been out here some of the time, but has chosen not to (attend OTAs),” Carroll said. “This is voluntary, he really knows the definition of that.”
Meanwhile, a pair of high-profile players were present Thursday, but not participating in drills as both tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Thomas Rawls, who suffered season-ending injuries last season, watched the action from the sidelines.
Graham, Seattle’s big offseason trade acquisition, suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee during the Seahawks’ 39-30 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. He finished with 48 receptions for 605 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.
Rawls, who announced himself as Marshawn Lynch’s heir apparent, suffered a broken ankle and ligament damage during Seattle’s 35-6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. He had 830 yards rushing on 147 carries and scored four rushing TDs in 13 games.
Both would be central cogs in Seattle’s offense — provided they’re healthy.
“Those guys are both making really good progress,” Carroll said. “Thomas is running, and Jimmy is back to running on the field for the first time the last couple days, which is great. He’s made terrific progress. Both those guys’ attitudes are really good, they’re really positive about making it. It’s a long haul for those guys and we feel for them because they want to be a part of it like everyone else. But they’re doing a great job of going through what they need to do.”
But will Graham and Rawls be back in time for the start of the season?
“We’re thinking that’s real possible,” Carroll answered. “It’s kind of what we’re thinking. We have to avoid setbacks, obviously, but we’re kind of counting on that.
“I think we’ll probably ease into training camp with both guys,” Carroll added. “Jimmy is a little farther behind than Thomas. We won’t rush them at that time, we’ll use all six weeks we can take advantage of.”
There were a handful of other players who sat out Thursday’s session because of injuries. Tackle Garry Gilliam, who’s slated to move from right tackle to left tackle and protect quarterback Russell Wilson’s blind side, underwent a procedure to have a cyst removed from his knee. Carroll said Gilliam had no structural damage to his knee, but that he’ll be out another two weeks. Tackle J’Marcus Webb, signed as a free agent from the Oakland Raiders, is recovering from a pulled calf muscle. Carroll said he expected Webb to miss another 10 days. Rookie running back C.J. Prosise, a third-round draft pick out of Notre Dame, sat out with a minor hip-flexor issue.
OTAs continue for two more weeks, with sessions on June 1 and June 9 also open to the media.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
