Pete Carroll hedges on Jimmy Graham playing in Seahawks’ opener

RENTON, Wash. – Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll tempered some of his optimism regarding tight end Jimmy Graham’s ability to be ready for the start of the season.

Carroll said Wednesday that, as expected, Graham will not play against Minnesota on Thursday in the Seahawks’ second preseason game. Graham is recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his right knee suffered last November in a game against Pittsburgh. Graham was activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list last week and returned to limited practice.

“Really we’re shooting for where is he at the start of the season?” Carroll said. “We’ll evaluate then how much longer it may take or he may be ready. We don’t know that yet. But he feels good and he’s confident it’s going along well.”

Carroll said throughout the majority of the offseason that he hoped Graham would be ready for the start of the regular season. Graham had surgery almost immediately after the injury and his right knee was completely immobilized for 11 to 12 weeks. The recovery from a patellar tendon tear can sometimes take up to a year but Graham was back on the field in less than nine months.

Graham finished last season with 48 receptions and two touchdowns before his injury.

“He’s got some tests coming up going into next week that will give us some more information and we’ll just see how it’s going,” Carroll said. “(We’re) pleased that he is upbeat about it and confident and he’s working very hard to make sure he takes full advantage of the rehab time as well as the football time. Making good progress.”