By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
RENTON — One of the greatest Seattle Seahawks of all time is getting a shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kenny Easley, a force on Seattle’s defense from 1981-87, was named Monday as a senior finalist for the Hall of Fame’s class of 2017. The senior nominee is a player whose career ended at least 25 years ago.
Easley, a strong safety, was selected fourth overall in the 1981 draft. In his seven seasons in the NFL, all with Seattle, he was named first-team All-Pro four times, was chosen to five Pro Bowls, and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1984. His 32 interceptions rank fourth on the Seahawks’ career list.
Easley is one of 18 candidates who will be considered by the Hall of Fame’s selection committee on Feb. 4. Like the other nominees, he will have to be named on at least 80 percent of the ballots to gain election. Easley is the only senior finalist this year. Last year two players were senior finalists, quarterback Ken Stabler and guard Dick Stanfel, and both were elected to the Hall of Fame.
RBs return to practice
Thomas Rawls, Seattle’s presumptive No. 1 running back, saw his first action in scrimmaging Monday. Rawls began training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list because of the ankle injury that ended his 2015 season. He was taken off the PUP list last week and returned to practice, though he was held out of scrimmaging, so Monday’s action was another step forward in Rawls’ recovery.
Two other running backs were also back in action Monday as rookies C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks participated in practice. Prosise and Brooks, candidates to fill the third-down role, had both been out since the early days of training camp because of hamstring injuries.
With Rawls, Prosise and Brooks back in action, the Seahawks waived running back Cameron Marshall. Linebacker Quayshawn Nealy was signed to take Marshall’s spot on the roster.
McDaniel returning?
It appears defensive tackle Tony McDaniel is returning to the Seahawks. Though McDaniel’s signing hadn’t been confirmed by Seattle, McDaniel’s agency tweeted that he had signed with the Seahawks, and McDaniel himself sent out a tweet that indicated he was returning to Seattle.
McDaniel, 31, played for the Seahawks from 2013-14, starting 29 games and making 94 tackles. The 6-foot-7, 305-pounder played last season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting three games and making 25 tackles. He would provide veteran depth at a position that’s seen Jordan Hill (groin) and Sealver Siliga (calf) miss extended time because of injuries.
Injury update
Linebacker Mike Morgan missed Monday’s practice, and coach Pete Carroll revealed afterward that Morgan was in Philadelphia seeing a doctor about a groin issue. However, Carroll downplayed the injury, saying Morgan will play in Thursday’s home preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Carroll also said strong safety Kam Chancellor (groin) and tackle J’Marcus Webb (knee) are unlikely to play Thursday. Meanwhile, cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste, who suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s game, did not practice and had his left arm in a sling.
For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at www.heraldnet.com/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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