KIRKLAND — The Seattle Seahawks separated themselves from the rest of the pack on Wednesday.
While most of the NFL was practicing with one opening-day starter, the Seahawks had two quarterbacks who fit the description.
Charlie Frye took part in his first practice with the team, one day after getting traded by the Cleveland Browns.
“There have been a lot of changes that happened in the past 24 hours for me, leaving Cleveland and flying I-don’t-even-know-how-many miles to Seattle,” said Frye, an Ohio native who spent his first two NFL seasons with the Browns. “But I think it’s going to be a good experience for me.”
Frye didn’t have a good experience in Sunday’s opener, starting for the Browns but eventually getting benched in favor of backup Derek Anderson. Frye was sacked five times and completed just 4 of 10 passes with an interception and was dealt to Seattle for a sixth-round pick two days later.
“I’ve been around quarterbacks a long time, and that would a hard one to deal with,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said of the unceremonious end to Frye’s Cleveland career. “We will bring him along. He’s a bright guy.
“I think there is a little bit of a period here where he has to figure out what happened. And then once that’s happened, we’ll start teaching him our stuff.”
As the Seahawks’ third-string quarterback, Frye is unlikely to see much playing time — or even many practice snaps, for that matter. But the team did give him some action in seven-on-seven drills during his first practice with the team Wednesday afternoon.
He completed his first pass, but had his second one intercepted by safety — and former Cleveland teammate — Brian Russell.
“B-Russ is one of my friends,” Frye told reporters after practice. “That was my golfing partner back in Cleveland.”
Frye started his Wednesday morning with a pair of phone conversations with former Browns teammate Trent Dilfer, whom the Seahawks traded to Cleveland in 2005.
“He thinks this is going to be a great situation for me,” Frye said. “He’s a guy I really look up to and really took a lot from during my rookie year. That being said, I’m really excited about the situation.”
According to the Associated Press, Frye is the first quarterback since the 1970 merger to start an opener and then be traded before the second game of the season.
Atkins moves up: While Frye was adjusting to a new team, another trade left Seahawks rookie Baraka Atkins adjusting to a new role.
The fourth-round pick is likely to see more playing time now that veteran defensive end Bryce Fisher has been dealt to Tennessee.
“I don’t think anybody comes into the league looking to play second fiddle to anybody,” Atkins said of the inevitable increase in playing time. “I want to compete for a job and compete for playing time, just like anybody. I want to make the coaches have some confidence in me.”
Atkins was one of eight players who were inactive for Sunday’s season opener, but it’s likely that he’ll play against the Arizona Cardinals this weekend. He’s projected to be part of a rotation with starters Patrick Kerney and Darryl Tapp.
“Of course, there will be a little more preparation,” Atkins said of the week leading up to his first NFL game, “but I’ve got to prepare the same way and be ready to play on every Sunday.”
Defensive coordinator John Marshall said that Atkins has earned his playing time.
“He’s got good ability, the right attitude, (and) very good speed,” Marshall said. “But it’s about being able to work against guys who’ve been in the business for 10 years.”
Familiar faces: While Orlando Huff has moved on and Chike Okeafor is out for the season, the Cardinals do have several ex-Seahawks on their roster.
Three of them are backup defensive linemen: Joe Tafoya, Chris Cooper and Rodney Bailey. Safety Oliver Celestin went to training camp with the Seahawks last year.
The Cardinals also have former Seahawks wide receiver Jerheme Urban, who was inactive for Monday’s opener.
The coaching staff also has ties to the Seahawks. Defensive backs coach Teryl Austin spent the past four seasons with the same title in Seattle before the team opted not to renew his contract.
Out of action: Wide receiver D.J. Hackett was one of three Seahawks who did not practice Wednesday.
Linebacker Leroy Hill (foot) and running back Maurice Morris (hip) were also sidelined, although their official status for Sunday’s game will not be announced until Friday.
Hackett is not expected to play in the game because of a high ankle sprain. During his Wednesday press conference, Holmgren was vague about the possible time of Hackett’s return.
“No one knows how long that is going to be,” the coach said. “It’s not gong to be season-ending; it’s not going to be one of those things. It might be as little as a couple of weeks.
“But no one knows.”
Quick slants: The Cardinals practiced without center Al Johnson (knee) and defensive tackles Ross Kolodziej (knee) and Alan Branch (hand). Johnson is not expected to play Sunday, meaning undrafted rookie Lyle Sendlein will probably make his first NFL start. … Frye will wear jersey No. 5 for the Seahawks.
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