Seahawks hopeful Harvin will play this season

RENTON, Wash. – Percy Harvin’s surgery went well Thursday, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the team is still hopeful he will return this season. Carroll didn’t give a timetable for the return of Harvin, who had surgery on his injured hip in New York. “With all the information that we got,” Carroll said, “we’re more hopeful that he will have a chance to get back.” Harvin announced on Tuesday via Twitter that his hip was going to require surgery. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier in the week that the Seahawks were hopeful Harvin would return by Thanksgiving. Golden Tate returning kickoffs? Golden Tate wants to return kickoffs in Harvin’s absence, but Carroll said he’s concerned about overusing Tate. Carroll said he is concerned about Tate returning kicks and punts while also playing wide receiver. He said he would like to have another option to create a rotation. Carroll said Tate, Jeremy Lane, Christine Michael and Bryan Walters are all options to return kicks. Carpenter getting back in shape Offensive lineman James Carpenter is still getting back in playing shape after a knee injury cut his season short last year. Carroll said Carpenter weighs 340 pounds – he’s listed on the roster at 321 pounds – but added he isn’t concerned with weight as much as conditioning. Carpenter was Seattle’s first-round pick in 2011 but has battled injuries. “He’s been away from ball so long so he’s got to get back up on the mental part,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “In the meantime, he’s also trying to get better physically. There are times he looks outstanding, and then there are times when he still needs to get better. We hope he makes a big jump here in the next four weeks.” Bevell said the Seahawks are trying to ease Carpenter back into playing shape. “It’s one thing to be in condition,” he said. “It’s another thing to be in football shape.” Seahawks sign former WSU tight end The Seahawks signed former Washington State tight end Andrei Lintz and claimed wide receiver Perez Ashford off waivers from the New England Patriots. The team also waived running back Ray Holley and former Eastern Washington University wide receiver Greg Herd, who hurt his shoulder during Thursday’s practice. Lintz, who attended high school in Bellingham, played in 43 games and had 10 catches for 114 yards at Washington State. Ashford is an undrafted rookie out of Northern Illinois.