RENTON -- Despite being listed as questionable on the final injury report, tight end Jimmy Graham is expected to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
"He did really well today," head coach Pete Carroll said after practice on Friday. "Made it through the whole practice and did everything. So he'll be all right.''
Graham injured his left ankle in last week's game against the San Francisco 49ers. While blocking on a run play, 49ers safety Eric Reid rolled into the back of Graham's legs, catching Graham's left foot underneath him.
After being evaluated on the sidelines, Graham returned to the field and finished the game. He ultimately played 54 of a possible 82 offensive snaps for Seattle. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday before returning to full participation on Friday.
Graham has just four catches for nine yards on 10 targets through the first two weeks of the season.
"He hasn’t caught a lot of balls, so we haven’t got a lot to him," Carroll said on Monday. "The balls he has been getting is a lot of short stuff that has happened so far. It’s the way it’s gone."
While Graham will play, two of Seattle's most vital special teams players potentially won't. That could become problematic quickly against Titans kick returner Adoree Jackson.
Neiko Thorpe has been ruled out due to an ankle injury while D.J. Alexander is listed as questionable with a hamstring issue. Alexander had been listed as doubtful before being moved up to questionable after practice on Friday.
"Those are two really high-liner guys for us," Carroll said. "That makes a difference so other guys are going to have to step in, fill in for them. That's exactly what it calls for."
Thorpe injured his right ankle when linebacker Michael Wilhoite tumbled into the side of his foot on kickoff coverage last week against the 49ers. Thorpe led the team in special teams tackles last
"He's been such a big factor that we moved some guys around to get that done. It's more than one guy. They have to figure that out though," Carroll said.
Alexander felt his hamstring act up during practice this week.
"It got real sore so we just have to take care of him and see how he goes," Carroll said.
Jackson returned a punt for a touchdown in the preseason against the Carolina Panthers and was a standout returner in college at USC.
"They look explosive now," Carroll said. "They're good at what they're doing and Adoree, he's a terrific football player. You know that he's figured out how to get in the end zone a lot in the kicking game and so you really have to be careful in how we cover. We got to do a great job in our lanes and all that, put the ball where we want to put it and all those things to minimize his effect. He's a really big-time threat back there."
Linebacker Terence Garvin is also questionable due to a shoulder injury. He missed last week's game against the 49ers with the injury as well. Wilhoite started in his place at strong-side linebacker.
DeShawn Shead, Dion Jordan making progress on PUP/NFI lists:
Cornerback DeShawn Shead and defensive end Dion Jordan remain on the physically unable to perform and non-football injury lists, respectively, as they each work back from knee injuries that made them unavailable during training camp.
Shead tore an ACL in January in Seattle's playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
"DeShawn has done an incredible job of coming back," Carroll said. "You guys know him, his mentality is extraordinary. His drive to continue to press and push and to max out the process is there. He is working. He is running, you can check him off because he is running really fast right now. He is doing everything that he can do and it is just a matter of time before he will be back and rolling, but he has done a great job."
Jordan signed with Seattle in April. Despite clearing a physical before signing a contract with the team, Jordan eventually needed a pair of clean-up procedures on his knee. Jordan hasn't played in a game since 2014 due to suspensions and injuries. However, he appears to be making progress toward having a chance to play this season with the Seahawks.
"I happened to watch him workout today and I was hearing that things have really been picking up," Carroll said. "He looked really good today. So we will see how that goes. It was very encouraging to see Dion look as quick as he does at 275 pounds. He needs to get in shape again because he hasn’t been able to work hard at his conditioning, but just physically being able to do the movements and things. I was fired up for him. I was really excited for him too because it’s been a long road for him getting back."
Shead and Jordan are both unavailable to return to the roster until after the first six weeks of the season expire. They become eligible to return to practice beginning on Oct. 16.
The Seahawks will then a have a six-week window in which the players can return to practice. Once a player returns to practice, the team will then have three weeks to get them up to speed before needing a make a decision on whether to place the player on the active roster or end their season by putting them on injured reserve.
Shead and Jordan both seem to be making progress toward being available to return once that six-week window opens next month.
Defensive tackle Malik McDowell also remains on the non-football injury list after his ATV accident in July. Carroll did not have any update on his status on Friday.
Injury Report:
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 07: Jimmy Graham #88 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled during the second half against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card game at CenturyLink Field on January 7, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)