RENTON — Seahawks quarterback Josh Portis was on the field Monday, taking part in his team’s organized team activities as one of three backup quarterbacks hoping to be next in line behind Russell Wilson.
A week from Tuesday, however, Portis will be in King County District Court in Redmond where he will be arraigned on charges of driving under the influence.
Portis was arrested on suspicion of DUI on May 5 after being pulled over for speeding going eastbound on Interstate 90. According to the Washington State Patrol arrest report, the WSP Trooper who pulled Portis over “smelled a strong odor of intoxicants” coming from the vehicle. Portis told the trooper that he had not been drinking, declined to take a breath test, and was arrested and transported to WSP headquarters in Bellevue. There, Portis consented to a breath test, and registered readings of .092 and .078. While at WSP headquarters, Portis filled out a DUI packet of questions, at which time he admitted to drinking tequila in the Alki Beach area of Seattle while celebrating Cinco De Mayo with his fiancé, who was in the car at the time of the arrest.
Portis, who spent the 2011 season on Seattle’s 53-man roster, spent most of last season on the practice squad before being released in November. He was re-signed this offseason to compete for Seattle’s vacant backup QB job along with Brady Quinn and and Jerrod Johnson.
Team signs RB Michael
Second-round pick Christine Michael, a running back from Texas A&M and Seattle’s first pick in last month’s draft, has signed his contract, leaving only two of the Seahawks’ 11 draft picks unsigned: cornerback Tharold Simon (fifth round) and tackle Michael Bowie (seventh round).
The Seahawks also signed tight end Darren Fells for the second time, having seen enough at their rookie minicamp to give him an extended look. Fells, the brother of Patriots tight end Daniel Fells, has not played football since high school, and had previously been playing professional basketball overseas. The Seahawks initially signed the 6-foot-8 Fells in March, then cut him earlier this month before he was invited to participate in the rookie minicamp. Seattle also released long snapper Adam Steiner, who had been claimed off of waivers earlier this month.
Lynch absent
While Monday’s workout was voluntary, every healthy player was present with the exception of running back Marshawn Lynch. Per the league’s collective bargaining agreement, players cannot be fined or punished for missing voluntary workouts such as Monday’s OTA.
“This is voluntary,” Carroll said. “That’s what the rules and guidelines are all set up to be … We miss him and we’d like him to be here. This is a lot of fun and there is a lot of good stuff happening here. He’s in very good shape, he came in ten days ago and he’s in very good shape. He’s working in a very intense program in his area and he’s benefitting from it. We’d love to see everyone here.”
Avril sits
With Bruce Irvin facing a four-game suspension to open the year and Chris Clemons still coming back from a knee injury, free-agent signing Cliff Avril figures to be the starting “leo” defensive end. However, the former Detroit Lion was not able to practice Monday because of a plantar fascia issue in his foot. Carroll said he expects Avril will be back in a couple of weeks, so the injury isn’t a huge concern, but plantar fascia injuries can linger if a player doesn’t have time to get ample rest. Last season, defensive end Red Bryant battled a similar injury for much of the season, and tight end Zach Miller played through a plantar fascia injury in the playoffs.
With Avril out, Michael Bennett, another free-agent addition, worked with the first team at end in the base defense.
Also present but sitting out because of injuries were rookies Christine Michael (foot) and Tharold Simon (foot). Tight end Anthony McCoy left practice early with an ankle injury.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.
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