Wednesday in Hawkville

[News Bot]

A recap of the day’s activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Oct. 26:
FOCUS ON
Wading back in. That’s what four injured starters who missed Sunday’s game against the Browns in Cleveland did today, when the Seahawks began preparing for this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field.
Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (strained pectoral), running back Marshawn Lynch (back spasms), tight end Zach Miller (sore neck) and center Max Unger (sore foot) took reps with the No. 1 offense during the morning walk-thru and then were limited in the 105-minute afternoon practice.
The most precarious situation involves Jackson, because the coaches need to get him work and see him throw the ball with authority, while also providing backup Charlie Whitehurst with enough reps so he’ll be ready if needed to start a second consecutive game.
“Anytime you have an injured player it’s similar, you’re always trying to walk the line on how much to do give him,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said after practice. “Because you’d love them to have every single rep. You want them to have those looks.
“Tarvaris had a bunch of reps this morning in the walk-thru. Then he comes out here and he gets some in the 9-on-7 and different periods. So we’re trying to give him as much as we can. … In the meantime, Charlie’s getting all the other reps and as we can get him just to prepare for him to play.”
Coach Pete Carroll said the final Jackson-or-Whitehurst decision could come down to game day.
“We just need to steal as much time as we can before we extend him, so that’s how we’ll go about it,” Carroll said of Jackson. “He’ll be ready to go in terms of playing the mental side of it by the end of this week. We just need to see physically if he can handle it.”
It’s a similar situation with Lynch, Miller and Unger.
Carroll on Lynch, who got some snaps in practice and also did a lot of running on the side: “I think he is going to be fine for the game. He feels much better already this week than he did last week at any time, so I think we’re moving in the right direction there.”
Carroll on Miller, who practiced today for the first time since being injured in the first half of the pre-bye week game against the New York Giants: “We’re just going to make sure that everything works out fine. He feels great and he feels like he can go, but we’re going to take it one step at a time during the week to make sure he makes it through.”
Carroll on Unger, who also was injured in the game against the Giants: “He feels really good and is encouraged that he can play. But again, we’ll just have to survive the week kind of and we’ll load him up to make sure that’s all right before we get there. But he’ll get enough work where he’ll be ready to play physically.”
OPPONENT WATCH
A.J. Green. The Bengals’ rookie wide receiver is playing to his draft status, which is a lofty level considering that he was the fourth overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. He leads the team, as well as all rookie receivers in the league, in catches (29), receiving yards (453) and TDs (four).
Green also has impressed Carroll.
“He’s a very explosive player,” Carroll said. “He’s got that quickness. He’s got that explosion. He’s got that confidence. And he has a marvelous catching range. He can make catches that other guys can’t get to and do something with it when he gets it.”
IN ’N OUT
Cornerback Brandon Browner did not practice, but his absence was not injury related. Strong safety Kam Chancellor (knee) participated fully in practice. Kennard Cox filled in for Browner in practice.
Carroll confirmed that offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus has been released. Polumbus started nine games during the regular season last year and both playoff games. But the club needs to the roster spot to address the injuries that have forced cornerbacks Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond to be placed on injured reserve the past two Mondays.
“I hate having to make that move because Tyler has been a great member of this team and we love him around here,” Carroll said. “But that was a move that we made for the opportunity of getting other guys up at different positions because of what’s happened.”
Cornerback Ron Parker was re-signed on Monday and cornerback Roy Lewis could be activated off the physically unable to perform list this week.
For the Bengals, linebackers Thomas Howard (hamstring) and Rey Maualuga (ankle) did not practice, while cornerback Nate Clements (knee) and linebacker San Skuta (groin) were limited.
STAT DU JOUR
Andy Dalton is a player the Seahawks considered drafting, and the rookie quarterback for the Bengals is showing why. He has the highest completion percentage (.624) and passer rating (84.3) of all the first-year QBs in the league who have thrown at least 100 passes – not to mention a 4-2 record as the starter. Here’s a look at how he compares to the other rookie passers selected in the first three rounds:
Starters
Player, team Att. Comp. Pct. Yards TD Int. Rating
Andy Dalton, Bengals 189 118 .624 1,311 7 5 84.3
Cam Newton, Panthers 252 152 .603 2,103 8 9 82.8
Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars 143 69 .483 810 4 2 69.4
Others
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers 3 3 1.000 35 0 0 115.3
Jake Locker, Titans 2 1 .500 12 0 0 68.8
Christian Ponder, Vikings 49 22 .449 318 2 2 63.1
UP NEXT
It will be “Turnover Thursday,” according to the Carroll calendar, when the players practice tomorrow. The Seahawks have taken the ball away six times in their past two games after forcing two turnovers in the first four games.
Tickets are available for Sunday’s game and can be purchased here.
YOU DON’T SAY
“Just having him back, we’re very young, and he gives us some background because he’s been around enough that he’ll affect the other guys in a positive way just through his experience.” – Carroll on Lewis, who returned to practice last week

Source: Seahawks.com