NFL notes: Seahawks’ Germain Ifedi questionable, Jimmy Graham to play against Dolphins

Seahawks right guard Germain Ifedi is listed as questionable to play against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Ifedi, Seattle’s first-round draft pick, has been the team’s starting right guard throughout the offseason but he injured his ankle in practice Wednesday. With his playing status in doubt, it could force the Seahawks to reshuffle their starting line just days before having to face Ndamukong Suh and the Dolphins’ strong front.

Coach Pete Carroll said Ifedi twisted his ankle and they won’t know about the severity for a few more days.

J’Marcus Webb said he was expecting to play at right guard in place of Ifedi.

“It’s a great opportunity to work with these guys this week and really dominate the Miami front and come out with a win at home,” Webb said.

Tight end Jimmy Graham is officially listed as questionable, but managed to be a full participant in practice all week. Graham did not play in the preseason as he eased back into practice following a torn patellar tendon that ended his 2015 season.

“He had a great last few weeks. He’s done everything we could ask of him. He couldn’t be more excited about playing,” Carroll said.

Running back Thomas Rawls was back to full practice participation on Friday after sitting out Thursday’s practice due to a headache and dizziness. He has worked back to full strength after suffering a broken ankle and ligament damage last December.

While Rawls is healthy and expected to play, Christine Michael will get the start for Seattle.

“I just want to contribute, show guys I can be consistent. I can be dependable,” Michael said. “They can count on me and I just know what I’m doing and I know my job. Feels good though. Definitely a privilege, definitely an honor, man. Just got to go out there and keep proving myself and doing what I’m doing.”

Rivera criticizes officials

Panthers coach Ron Rivera wants Cam Newton to receive the same protection on helmet-to-helmet hits as other quarterbacks get in the NFL.

Rivera said because of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton’s size and the Panthers’ style of play, Newton often doesn’t draw the flags on hard hits that smaller QBs do. Newton was on the receiving end of four helmet-to-helmet hits in Thursday’s game against Denver, but the Broncos were only penalized once.

“I think there is a little bit of prejudice to that,” Rivera said of the lack of penalties. “It’s kind of like Shaquille O’Neal. He’s a big physical basketball player and he goes to set a pick and they fall down and they call a foul on him. Then he goes to shoot a layup and gets hacked and hammered and they don’t call it.”

Rivera even went as far as to say the league’s reigning MVP should receive some preferential treatment.

The coach would like to see Newton, now in his sixth season, get some “veteran favoritism” from the league’s officials.

Newton was tested four times for a concussion – after the game in the locker room, on the bus, on the flight home and Friday morning at the stadium – and all proved to be negative. He was never tested during the game.

Newton is expected to practice when the Panthers return to the field on Wednesday, the coach said.

Rivera said he will send video of some of the hits to the league.

Kubiak confident in QB

Gary Kubiak didn’t flinch when Trevor Siemian threw two interceptions in his first NFL start, and neither did the no-longer-unknown QB.

Siemian led the Broncos back from a late 10-point deficit for a 21-20 win over the Panthers in his first NFL start Thursday.

He did so by engineering the kind of fourth-quarter comeback that made John Elway and Peyton Manning icons in this quarterback-crazed town.

“He’s going to make mistakes. He’s a young kid, but man, he played with a lot of poise,” Kubiak said. “He’s going to watch film and he’s going to get so much better.”

Siemian became the first QB to start for a Super Bowl champion without ever having thrown a pass as a pro. He finished 18 of 26 for 178 yards, one TD and two interceptions.

That changed on the game’s first snap, when he zipped an 11-yarder to Demaryius Thomas, then threw four more passes before handing off to C.J. Anderson.

“It wasn’t so much to build confidence as to show confidence,” Kubiak said Friday, suggesting the only way a young QB gets better is for his coach to show faith in him.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Siemian “was poised” because Carolina’s fierce front seven didn’t pressure him enough.

Quick kicks

Bills RT Seantrel Henderson dropped plans to appeal the NFL’s four-game suspension even though he says he was using marijuana for medicinal purposes. … Former 49ers TE Bruce Miller has made his first court appearance on assault and battery charges after police say he drunkenly attacked a 70-year-old man and his son. Miller didn’t enter a plea, and his arraignment is set to wrap up Nov. 2. … Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will miss New England’s opener against the Cardinals on Sunday night because of a hamstring injury. … Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater will require recovery from multiple ligament reconstruction in his left knee after dislocating it in practice. The team issued a statement Friday from director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman, revealing that the surgery the day before was performed in Dallas by Dr. Dan Cooper at the Carrell Clinic. The dislocation of Bridgewater’s knee during practice on Aug. 30 resulted in a complete tear of his anterior cruciate ligament, accompanied by other significant damage as initially announced by the Vikings.