Seahawk shuffle
Okung’s injury leaves line up in air
RENTON, Wash. – Eventually, Pete Carroll would like to see continuity with Seattle’s offensive line.
That’s not likely to arrive until rookie first-rounder Russell Okung returns from his high ankle sprain suffered in the preseason. Until then, the Seahawks will continue to shuffle their front line in the hopes of finding a bit of stability and better production from the run game.
“I think our best football is down the road. And that’s something that I’m excited to see happen and come about,” Carroll said Wednesday. “I think as we grow, maybe it takes four or five weeks to really know where we are with the front and how we can run the football and all of that.”
Seattle’s major change up front this week is the inclusion of veteran Stacy Andrews, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia less than two weeks ago. Andrews will start at right guard on Sunday in Denver, replacing Max Unger, who is done for the season with a toe injury.
Unger was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and will need surgery to repair a severe turf toe injury in his left foot. Unger, who was wearing a protective boot in the Seahawks’ locker room on Monday, will need three months of rehab following the surgery.
His injury also leaves Seattle with just two of the five expected starting offensive linemen from when training camp began. Okung is out for this week and Ben Hamilton – signed from Denver in the offseason as a free agent – was a backup for last week’s opener.
The shuffling still might not be done. Gibson suffered a lower back strain against San Francisco, leading Hamilton to take most of the snaps. Carroll said Wednesday he’s not sure who will start in Denver, although Gibson fully participated in Wednesday’s practice.
Andrews was brought to Seattle from Philadelphia after his highly regarded offseason pickup by the Eagles following the 2008 season. But he started just two games in 2009.
“He gives us an experienced player that has to adapt very quickly to our system and our scheme,” Carroll said. “We were hoping it (would be) a couple weeks from now, he would have some time to learn what’s going on.”
Okung, Seattle’s $58-million investment as the replacement for Walter Jones at left tackle, started running on a treadmill this week, but the timing of his return is still unknown.