Mili could be ready for Seahawks’ opener

KIRKLAND – The good news for the Seattle Seahawks on Monday was that a thinning tight end position didn’t get even thinner.

Coach Mike Holmgren was relieved to report that tight end Itula Mili, who injured his left knee in Saturday’s loss to San Diego, was not seriously hurt and could be available for the Sept. 10 regular-season opener.

The news was not as good regarding backup safety Mike Green, who was also injured in the Chargers game. Green is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery after suffering a Lisfranc injury to his left foot.

“He was one of the bright spots in training camp,” Holmgren said of Green, a six-year NFL veteran who was acquired through a trade with Chicago in April. “He’s such a good guy. He was very excited about the season, and it’s too bad. But now we’ll fix (his foot), and he’ll be back next year.”

The loss of Green leaves very few options behind starters Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware. Seattle has so little depth that cornerback Jordan Babineaux was playing safety with the No. 2 defense at Tuesday’s practice.

Babineaux, who played safety at Southern Arkansas University before making the transition to NFL cornerback, isn’t too concerned about another position switch.

“I feel comfortable at safety because it’s a natural position for me,” Babineaux said. “Now it’s just about getting some looks and getting my reads down.”

Oliver Celestin and Etric Pruitt are the only other safeties on the roster.

Depth could have been an even bigger concern at tight end had Mili’s MRI come up positive. The team is already without Jerramy Stevens for up to three weeks of the regular season, so the loss of Mili could have been devastating.

“He had a sprain,” Holmgren said after a short practice at the team’s Eastside practice facility on Monday. “It wasn’t the cartilage, which we originally thought. He just has to rest it now, and hopefully we’ll have him. He might be able to play against Detroit.”

With Mili sidelined for Thursday’s preseason game against Oakland, veteran Will Heller will probably start. Heller, who has just 15 career receptions in three NFL seasons with Tampa Bay and Miami, would also be the team’s best option to start the opener if Mili’s knee has not healed.

Fourth-year player Matt Murphy and Leonard Stephens are the only other tight ends on the roster.

More good news came in regards to left tackle Walter Jones, who bruised his shoulder in the game but will not miss any regular-season games. An MRI came up negative, and although Jones will sit out the preseason finale Thursday, he’s expected to return to practice next week.