RENTON — Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson will have a new toy when he makes his first career start on Friday at Kansas City.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll announced on Wednesday that the team’s No. 1 receiver, Sidney Rice, will make his exhibition debut against the Chiefs.
Rice did not play in Seattle’s first two preseason games, and had been limited in contract drills during training camp because he’s still recovering from surgery on both shoulders during the offseason.
But the South Carolina product has been full-go this week, taking a couple good shots from Seattle’s first-unit defense without suffering any ill effects.
“We’re anxious to see him get out there,” Carroll said. “He’s had a fantastic process getting back. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s practicing really, really well. And so we’ll get him a little bit of play time just to break the ice on that one.”
Rice hasn’t played in a game since suffering concussions in back-to-back games during the backstretch of the 2011 season, which landed the 25-year-old receiver on the season-ending injured reserve list in December.
Rice finished with 32 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns in his first year in Seattle.
Rice’s appearance on the field should help a first-unit offense whose longest pass play from scrimmage is a 14-yard connection from quarterback Matt Flynn to tight end Zach Miller.
“We talked all in the offseason on how we were going to do it and he is ahead of schedule,” Carroll said. “He’s applied himself so well and has done a great job in the weight room. He’s never been pumped like this before. He’s feeling really confident out there and we are all looking forward to it.”
Lewis to have knee surgery
Carroll told reporters on Thursday that special teams standout Roy Lewis has a knee issue that will require surgery, making his availability for the team’s season opener uncertain.
“He’s going to get it worked on and we have to see,” Carroll said. “And it’s on his other knee, but we won’t know what it means until they go in there and fix him up.
“It’s kind of been an ongoing process.”
Lewis spent the first six weeks of the 2011 list on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list because of a different knee issue, but was activated and played in 10 games, finishing with a career-high 20 tackles.
Lewis has been a fixture as Seattle’s nickel back the past two seasons, but Marcus Trufant has been filling that role in training camp.
Extra points
Quarterback Matt Flynn took limited reps in practice on Wednesday. Carroll said that they wanted to rest his arm a little bit heading into this weekend. “We just wanted to keep him out for one day of throwing before the weekend, so we did that,” he said. Carroll added that he doesn’t expect the issue to affect Flynn’s availability for Friday’s game. … Zach Miller (concussion) is expected to play on Friday, Carroll said. Center Max Unger (calf) and cornerback Coye Francies (head) also returned to practice on Wednesday, and should be available for the Kansas City game. … Carroll said offensive lineman John Moffitt (elbow) should be ready to begin practice again next week. … Fullback Michael Robinson (toe), tight end Cameron Morrah (toe), defensive end Jason Jones (knee), defensive tackle Pep Levingston (knee), receiver Doug Baldwin (hamstring), cornerback Ron Parker (knee), running back Marshawn Lynch (back), linebacker Allen Bradford (hip) and linebacker Matt McCoy (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. … Cornerback Walter Thurmond (leg) and offensive lineman James Carpenter (knee) remain on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
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