RENTON -- Linebacker Bobby Wagner and quarterback Geno Smith each made limited returns to the practice field on Friday following recent medical procedures for knee issues.
While not definitively stated by the team, Wagner appears to have had a Regenokine procedure performed on his knee in preparation for the 2019 season. It's a treatment the Seahawks have utilized before for several players. The procedure is essentially a blood-spinning treatment that helps reduce inflammation.
"I'm ready. I'm good," Wagner said after practice on Friday. "Everything went perfect. I heal pretty fast."
Meanwhile, backup quarterback Geno Smith was also back after having a cyst removed from his knee last Friday.
"Geno did get back on the practice field today," head coach Pete Carroll said. "This is a remarkable recovery already, just to get back on the field today. We’ll see. We are going to do one day at a time, see where he is."
Wagner is not going to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Smith might, but it won't be determined until closer to the game. If he can't play, Seattle has J.T. Barrett on the roster to take any snaps not given to Russell Wilson or Paxton Lynch.
The news was slightly less promising for a part of veterans along the line of scrimmage.
Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah strained his groin at the start of the week as he continues to work back into shape after offseason shoulder surgery.
"He had a minor groin pull that he got in workouts," Carroll said. "t was about five days ago for him. It’s going to take him a bit, it’s not a major injury at all. We’re really thrilled, his strength is back, he’s made it back to full strength in terms of his rehab for his shoulder, we’re just waiting on his groin right now.
"It’s not a serious injury at all, it’s just something that’s going to nag him for a little bit.”
Carroll said he didn't believe the injury would have any impact on Ansah' availability for the season opener against Cincinnati in just over three weeks. Meanwhile, guard Mike Iupati also sustained an additional injury while working back from a strained foot. Carroll said Iupati strained his calf while doing workouts.
"He was ready to go (from the foot strain), he just had an unfortunate calf thing that came back in his workout the other day, so we’ve got to get through that," he said.
Additionally, guard Jordan Simmons recently had another knee surgery and is out an undisclosed amount of time.
“He had his knee worked on and he’s in recovery mode. Rehab," Carroll said.
Simmons has had several knee surgeries dating back to his college career at USC. A knee injury ended his 2018 season with Seattle after adequately filling in for D.J. Fluker.
A few more injury updates of note...
-- DE L.J. Collier: "I was with him this morning. He’s feeling good. He’s working and moving around a lot. He’s getting closer. He’s making really good progress. I don’t know what the timeline will be there. He’s pushing it now and that’s good to know.”
-- OT George Fant: "“Nothing new for George. He’s doing fine. It’s going to take us another week or so before we know how his ankle is going to respond."
-- SS Lano Hill: "“He does have a chance to play in this game but he’s one of those guys we’ll have to figure it out.”
-- DT Demarcus Christmas: "“He has made good progress. He’s had a couple treatments, the second one kicked in a little bit and has helped him, but he’s not on the field yet.”
-- G Phil Haynes: "I don’t think he’s going to make it back for (preseason) games. It’ll be great to get him back that first week, is about that right time that we can step a little bit closer to that. We’ll see. It’s kind of a race against time. I hope he will be able to. We just have to take care of him. I don’t know that for sure yet.”
-- LB Shaquem Griffin: "Yeah, he had a bruised knee that kind of happened in the game and he got back to practice and it kind of flared up a little bit again, so we chilled him out today. I don’t know what that means for the ball game.”
-- RB Bo Scarbrough: "He did a little groin thing that he got. We don’t know if he’s going to be ready for the game or not.”
Notes:
-- Running back Travis Homer was back working in team drills after missing about a week due to a quadriceps strain. The return to practice indicates he could have a chance to make his preseason debut against Minnesota on Sunday.
-- Safety Marquise Blair was getting some time at free safety in practice on Friday. He had a nice pass breakup on a throw intended for Keenan Reynolds and later intercepted a pass from Paxton Lynch intended for Terry Wright.
"He has shown good man to man stuff, his match up stuff is good," Carroll said. "The plays that he made in the game last week demonstrated really good range, timing and breaking on the ball and all that, the hits that he made on both of his down the field throws, that shows you that he’s got good sense and awareness. He had a great play today, on the final play of the day to make a pick for the defense which shows you again. I don’t have any reservation in saying that he can do all of the things that we need him to do. He’s just got to learn what we’re doing, figure it out, and make sure that he’s really tight with all of his assignments and responsibilities. That’s going to take some time. That takes time before we trust him, we have guys that we do trust and they know what they’re doing so he has to work his way through all of that so the competition is really stiff. But, he has shown great flashes already so we’re excited about that.
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to pass the ball against Bradley Chubb #55 of the Denver Broncos in the first quarter during their preseason game at CenturyLink Field on August 08, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)