Seahawks lineman Carpenter may play

RENTON, Wash. – Seattle has been missing two offensive linemen this week as guard John Moffitt has sat out the past two practices with a sore knee and tackle Breno Giacomini is out with a pectoral injury.

The biggest player on the line is about to return, though, as James Carpenter – last year’s first-round pick – could be ready to play this week after recovering from a serious knee injury suffered last year.

“He’s live and in action this week,” coach Pete Carroll said. “Carp is back to life. He has done a great job in the process of getting back here. This is Week 4. We’re thrilled that he’s got a chance. He has a chance to play this week.

“We’ll see how it goes. He’ll be playing at left guard, and we’ll see how all that fits.”

Carpenter was drafted as a tackle, but is moving to guard, which Seattle expects will be a permanent spot for him. He is practicing at left guard, where Seattle hopes to pair him alongside Russell Okung.

“He feels most comfortable on the left side, just from his background,” Carroll said of Carpenter, who played left tackle at Alabama.

Paul McQuistan is Seattle’s starting left guard, though Carroll left open the possibility that McQuistan could move to the right side, which is particularly a consideration because of the uncertainty of Moffitt’s status this week.

But before any of that, Carpenter has to show he’s ready to play Sunday.

Bag brigade

Seattle entered Monday’s game with two sacks. The Seahawks had eight in the first half alone, and while they didn’t add to that total in the second half, Seattle finished with its highest sack total since September 2008.

It was an example of the kind of pass-rush improvement Seattle hoped for when it drafted Bruce Irvin in the first round, choosing him to provide some help for Chris Clemons, who had 11 sacks each of the last two seasons.

And while Irvin got only Seattle’s first two sacks, they opened the door to the pass rush that followed as Green Bay helped tackle Bryan Bulaga against Irvin.

That freed Clemons up in the second period.

“It actually gave me the opportunity,” Clemons said. “Because they realized they had to block him, and if they didn’t block him, he would have a monster night”

Baldwin back

 WR Doug Baldwin, who missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury, is practicing. He is expected to be available Sunday at St. Louis. LB Leroy Hill sat out practice with a calf injury.