Curry returns to field
Aaron Curry missed all the hard work.
Seattle’s second-year linebacker returned to Seahawks’ practice on Tuesday after missing more than a week with a concussion suffered on the first day of training camp, following a collision with diminutive running back Justin Forsett.
And outside of that first day when he was dinged during the afternoon practice, Curry managed to miss every two-a-day the Seahawks are conducting during Pete Carroll’s first camp as Seattle’s coach.
“It is strange, but coach Carroll, he stresses that we need to be fresh when we play,” Curry said. “We don’t need to be overworked or the most conditioned team, but the legs are so beat up that they never have a chance to recover. So I think coach Carroll has done a good job at giving us time to recover versus just working us till we can’t work anymore.”
Tuesday was supposed to be the final two-a-day – and one of just five the entire training camp – for the Seahawks. But continuing with the trend of spending less time on the field, Carroll shortened it to just one session in the afternoon.
That doesn’t mean the Seahawks are spending less time at their training facility. There are still morning sessions on the field minus the contact, not to mention the countless meetings throughout the day. Carroll says he’s just taking extra precautions to make sure his players aren’t already fatigued by the time the Sept. 12 season opener against San Francisco comes around.
“We had so much good work done before. A lot of the guys we know can play and have played before, (but) we’re not very deep yet and we wanted to make sure they make it through camp,” Carroll said. “And we’re getting so much done with everything else going on. We’re still on the field in the mornings of the single days now and that session as long as that is a great benefit to us and we’re focused and tuned into it where we can get enough done without the burden and wear and tear.”
But the changes go beyond just fewer practices. Seattle had a day off during its first week and had this past Monday off as well. After hosting Green Bay in their second preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 21, the Seahawks get two more days to rest.
• The Seahawks signed former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Tyjuan Hagler and wide receiver Matt Simon.
To make room, the Seahawks waived injured wide receiver Marcus Maxwell and released cornerback Chris Richards on Tuesday.
Hagler was a fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2005. He has started 17 of the 37 games in his NFL career.
Simon originally signed with New Orleans before the 2009 season and was with the Saints practice squad for one week before getting released.
Hanson recuperating
There were no surprises in the arthroscopic surgery Lions kicker Jason Hanson (Mead HS, WSU) had on his left non-kicking knee last week, and he is expected back for the regular season.
Hanson, 40, had the minor procedure to repair cartilage damage. He injured himself while planting his foot during a drill.
“It was exactly what we thought,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “Everything’s fine, and we would expect him back fairly soon. He’s not day to day, but I think he’s definitely on track to begin the season. I don’t know what that’ll be in training camp. A lot of it depends on how he responds.”
Last season, Hanson had similar surgery on his right knee deeper into training camp, and that caused him to miss most of the exhibition season. When Hanson returned, he had some trouble booming kickoffs.
Schwartz said that was partly because Hanson was asked to kick away from returners. Schwartz did not anticipate bringing in a kickoff specialist, but he did not rule it out.
“You always consider it because you never know how he’s going to respond,” Schwartz said. “You never know what his performance is going to be. …
“But if we’re a good cover team and we’re covering well on kickoffs, we can let Jason hammer the ball. And he’s always been one of the best at doing that. But you never close the door. You’re always are alert for things like that.”
Around the league
Cleveland Browns starting inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson left the practice field with a potentially serious injury. Jackson, who missed the final 10 games last season with a torn pectoral muscle, walked dejectedly off the field during the evening session. The 26-year-old Jackson has been a steady player since being drafted by the Browns in 2006. He led the team in tackles in 2008. … The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed safety Vince Anderson and claimed tight end Martin Rucker off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles. To make room on the roster, the team waived defensive end George Johnson and receiver Mario Urrutia. … Buffalo Bills rookie receiver Marcus Easley is out indefinitely and could miss the entire season because of an apparent knee injury. Coach Chan Gailey provided few details or specifics of what Easley hurt, except to say the team will make a final determination on the player’s status within the next day. … Four of the five New York Giants tight ends missed practice with injuries, forcing offensive lineman Herb Taylor to run a few plays at the position. … The Green Bay Packers placed Josh Bell on injured reserve, compounding their depth problems at cornerback.