RENTON -- Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright had arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Monday, which has brought his availability for the start of the regular season into question.
Wright, 29, played in Friday night's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was not injured in the game but felt some discomfort afterward that led toward the Seahawks taking a closer look at his knee.
"After the game - he didn't get hit or anything or didn't have an episode - just felt that maybe something wasn't quite right, head coach Pete Carroll said. "We took a good look at it. So we're going to do a scope job and get him back really quick."
However, "really quick" wasn't exactly defined. Carroll said he didn't know how many weeks it would be or if it will keep Wright out for the opener against the Denver Broncos.
"I don't know that," Carroll said.
If Wright is unable to play in Week One, it would likely lead to rookie Shaquem Griffin making the start for Seattle at strong-side linebacker.
Griffin - a fifth-round pick out of Central Florida - has been the best story of the offseason as he was drafted to play in the NFL despite missing his left hand due to a birth defect that required amputation of his hand as a child.
Griffin has been working behind Wright at the "SAM" linebacker spot throughout the offseason. However, he is a significantly different body type than Wright.
Wright is listed at 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds. Griffin is 6-foot and 227 pounds.
Carroll was asked if Griffin is ready to start if Wright is unable to play.
"At this point, today, he's got to be ready," Carroll said. "We don't have any choice for that thought right now until we know more. So we'll see how it goes."
Notes:
-- Wide receiver Doug Baldwin won't play in the preseason finale against Oakland, but Carroll said he will be ready to go for the season opener next week against Denver.
-- Defensive end Frank Clark did not practice on Monday after hyper-extending his elbow in the game against the Vikings.
-- Guard/tackle Reed Odhiambo was absent Monday due to an illness.
-- Carroll praised the play of right tackle Germain Ifedi recently: "I think he's doing well. I think he's doing really well. He's really cleaned up his game, he's playing hard. He's got some technique stuff that he's working on that show up. You can tell that he is. I think he's responding well. ... He did fine (in the game). He played a very solid game."
-- Carroll was also highly complimentary of the play of rookie tight end Will Dissly: "That's a big improvement for us. I think it was a great pick. John (Schneider) was on this one right from the start. He really brings something that we needed."
-- Free safety Tedric Thompson is day-to-day with a stringer and took a shot to the ribs in the game in Minnesota as well. "His mentality is right and he wants to play right now," Carroll said.
-- Defensive end Dion Jordan is making progress as well: "He's trying to make a bid for getting back here next week. As we said a long time ago, it would be a race to that last week and that's kind of where it is right now. He's done a good job. He's really chomping at the bit to get back on the field and we'll just have to see how it goes."
Carroll said they will have a decision as to whether to keep Jordan on the PUP list for six weeks or activate for the start of the year with the chance he may not play the first couple of games.
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 09: Linebacker Shaquem Griffin #49 of the Seattle Seahawks defends against the Indianapolis Colts at CenturyLink Field on August 9, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)