RENTON — Russell Okung could be back in action sooner than anticipated for the Seattle Seahawks.
The second-year offensive tackle limped off the field with a left ankle injury after the fifth play of the game against San Diego on Thursday. After being evaluated by trainers, Okung had to be carted to the locker room.
But at practice Saturday, Okung watched from the sideline in a jersey and shorts, with no protective boot. Okung simulated pass drops while watching teammates go through individual work.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said he’s hopeful that Okung will heal in time for the team’s regular-season opener at San Francisco on Sept. 11.
With Okung out, Tyler Polumbus spent time at left tackle with the first unit.
“Russell’s not nearly as bad as it looked,” Carroll said. “He’s walking around fine. He’s not in a boot. We’re not talking about how long yet, but it’s nothing like the ones he’s had.
“And so I don’t know if we can call it mild or not, but he was out walking around. And he’s moving, and doing the toe raises and stuff. So he’s way more active than he was at any time early in the other ankle injuries that he had. We’re feeling pretty positive that something’s going to come out, and within the next couple weeks we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
The setback is Okung’s third ankle injury in a year. The second-year player out of Oklahoma State suffered a high ankle sprain on his right leg in the second exhibition game last August, causing him to miss the rest of the exhibition schedule and the first three games of the regular season.
Okung then suffered a high ankle sprain on his left leg three weeks later, Oct. 24 against Arizona, and missed three more games.
But Carroll said going through that experience could help Okung in this rehabilitation.
“Maybe so,” Carroll said. “Let’s just see how it goes. He does have the knowledge of what it took to get back. But the time frame we dealt with last time is not the time frame we want to deal with this time. We want to get back a lot quicker. So he’ll know what it’s like to feel when it’s starting to return, I’m sure. So hopefully that will help him.”
QB COMPETITION?
Carroll anointed Tarvaris Jackson the starter when training camp began, but he praised reserve signal-caller Charlie Whitehurst after practice Saturday.
“Backup quarterback is always considered really highly until he has to play,” Carroll said. “And fortunately for Charlie he did some good stuff. He won the division game we needed against the Rams and did some good things. Charlie is having an excellent camp. He benefited from the early work, where he got all of those reps.”
Carroll went on to say that Whitehurst is playing with confidence and picking up the offense faster than he thought he would.
“The competition I thought would take a month or something, or six weeks or something, but it’s really come on a little sooner,” Carroll said. “And so it’s great to have a couple guys who can play. And they feel Josh Portis (can) too. Those guys know that Josh Portis can make some things happen.”
So the next logical question is, has Carroll moved up the timetable on the competition between Jackson and Whitehurst?
“No, not yet,” Carroll said. “I’m sticking to where we said we were from the beginning. Tarvaris has done nothing but good stuff, and he’s only practiced six days now. So let’s give him a couple of weeks to give him his offense and his personnel in mind, and who he’s playing with and all that stuff.”
INJURY REPORT
Several players missed practice Saturday, including Jay Alford (unknown), Okung (ankle), Ryan Sims (knee), Byron Maxwell (sprained toe), Chris Carter (unknown), Roy Lewis (knee), Deon Butler (leg), Cameron Morrah (toe) and Colin Cole (ankle). … Defensive ends Red Bryant (knee) and Chris Clemons (ankle) returned to practice, but Bryant was limited to individual drills. Kentwan Balmer (neck stinger) also returned, but was limited to individual drills. Receiver Mike Williams (toe) also was limited to individual drills, along with Justin Forsett (stiff neck). Sidney Rice (shoulder) and Ben Obomanu (shoulder) were both full go.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
A FEW MINUTES WITH …
JIMMY WILKERSON, DEFENSIVE END
Versatile performer
Wilkerson already knows a thing or two about the team’s defensive scheme, having played for defensive line coach Todd Wash in Tampa Bay two years ago.
Wilkerson played last season in New Orleans.
The Seahawks like the versatility of the 6-foot-2, 270-pound 30-year-old, and he flashed his pass-rush skills against San Diego on Thursday with a sack in the first half.
Seattle likes Wilkerson’s ability to play both defensive end and defensive tackle.
“I’m getting pretty comfortable with it,” Wilkerson said about the change of scenery. “The system is just like the system I was in down in Tampa. The terminology is just a little different, but I think I’ve caught on pretty good.
“I feel confident in knowing what to do when the coaches throw me in. It’s a learning process, but it’s going a lot faster than I expected.”
So have you always been a guy who can play all over the defensive line?
“That’s what I’ve been doing since my days in Kansas City,” Wilkerson said. “So Coach Wash, Gus (defensive coordinator Gus Bradley), Coach (Pete) Carroll, they all know what I can do on the inside, and what I can bring on third down. So it’s a very comfortable spot for me, going from defensive end to defensive tackle.”
CenturyLink preview
Wilkerson played for New Orleans in the NFC wild-card playoff game against the Seahawks last year, so he got a first-hand look at what it’s like to play in the noisy atmosphere at CenturyLink Field.
“It played a big factor (in) my decision,” he said. “When we were here in the playoff game, the way the fans get around the guys, there were no boos in the game, and we see that all around the league.
“And when I was taking my visit here, I was getting texts from a bunch of fans here, and calls from a bunch of fans, tweets from a bunch of fans. So they really opened their arms to me, and I’m glad I’m here.”
A heated competition
One of 18 defensive linemen on the roster, Wilkerson is in the midst of a heated competition for roughly half that many spots on the final 53-man roster.
“Any time where you have a lot of competition in training camp, it’s going to make you better, and at the same time it’s going to make the team better,” Wilkerson said. “So I embrace the competition, and like all of the guys say, may the best man win.”
Comfy in Seattle
Wilkerson said because of his familiarity with Wash along with Carroll and the role Seattle had slotted for him, he thought the Seahawks offered the best fit for his family in free agency.
“We wanted to go somewhere where we were going to be comfortable,” Wilkerson said. “Where we were going to fit in right away, and I think this team is a perfect spot for me, and a perfect spot for my abilities to be shown out there on the field. So I’m just glad that we got the deal done and I’m here.”
Eric D. Williams, staff writer
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