The Seahawks returned to practice on Wednesday at Virginia Mason Athletic Center to prepare for the first regular season game of 2016 against the Miami Dolphins.
The Seahawks' first practice report of the 2016 season is out, and tight end Jimmy Graham (knee), who head coach Pete Carroll has said is taking it "one day at a time" heading into Sunday's regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins, was a full participant.
Graham and running back Thomas Rawls (ankle), two of Seattle's top offensive weapons from a year ago, have been working their way back from injuries that ended their 2015 seasons early. Rawls saw carries in the preseason finale last Thursday and was absent from Wednesday's practice report, an encouraging sign for Rawls' health.
"We've been working them through since they got here at training camp and just kind of continued to build it," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said after Wednesday's practice of having Graham and Rawls back in the mix. "So we were able to see Thomas get a couple carries. Like I've said before, it just buoys everyone's spirits when we get to see those guys out there because one, they're great players, and two, they have great personalities and great energy for us on offense.
"We know what Thomas can bring, so just being able to have him out there is going to be a big boost for us, and it remains to be seen with Jimmy. Both those guys are still early in their playing times and to say this is the second preseason game really for Thomas, if Jimmy was able to go it'd be his first preseason game, so they're not going to go 70 plays. We know that we have to monitor what they're going to do. But we just want to see them out there and start to build on that progress that they've made."
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (toe) was also a full participant Wednesday, while offensive guard Germain Ifedi (ankle) was limited. Tight end Nick Vannett (ankle), who coach Carroll has already ruled out for Sunday's game against Dolphins, did not practice, nor did cornerback Tharold Simon (knee).
For the Dolphins, starting center Mike Pouncey (hip) is "still kind of in our evaluation phase," as Miami head coach Adam Gase put it via conference call on Wednesday. Pouncey, a three-time Pro Bowler, didn't practice Wednesday according to the team's report and will be re-examined Friday, Gase said.
"We'll get out and run a little bit on Friday, just to see where everybody is at," Gase said. "I guess the best thing I can say is we'll see where everybody is at on Friday."
Second-year receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring), the No. 14 overall pick in last year's draft, also did not participate in Wednesday's practice for the Dolphins.
Here's a complete look at Wednesday's practice reports for both teams:
Seattle Seahawks
Full Participation in Practice
TE Jimmy Graham (Knee)
DT Jarran Reed (Toe)
Limited Participation in Practice
G/T Germain Ifedi (Ankle)
Did Not Participate in Practice
CB Tharold Simon (Knee)
TE Nick Vannett (Ankle)
Miami Dolphins
Full Participation in Practice
DE Terrence Fede (Knee)
DT Earl Mitchell (Calf)
G Laremy Tunsil (Knee)
Limited Participation in Practice
LB Jelani Jenkins (Knee)
RB Isaiah Pead (Hamstring)
Did Not Participate in Practice
WR DeVante Parker (Hamstring)
C Mike Pouncey (Hip)