The Seattle Seahawks’ recent pursuit of free agent wide receivers such as Braylon Edwards and Antonio Bryant was initially believed to be related to Sidney Rice’s health. It was a logical assumption. Rice suffered three concussions in an 11-month span, ending last November along with his 2011 football season. Rice also underwent offseason surgery on both of his shoulders.
But Sidney Rice was medically cleared to practice in Seahawks camp on Saturday, and took the field in a red, no-contact jersey.
“I had planned to come to camp and be really slow with reentering him to make sure we use the next four to five weeks to continue to build him up and get him right,” said coach Pete Carroll, after Rice’s Saturday activation from the PUP list. “He had both shoulders worked on, so he has another month to continue to work and get through as many weeks as we can without him getting nicked so we can get him strong for the season.”
With hindsight as our guide, the interest in Edwards and signing of Bryant may have had more to do with the Seahawks’ opinion of their other receivers. Second-year man Doug Baldwin is mostly a slot guy, and 2010 second-round pick Golden Tate has disappointed in his first two NFL seasons.
Rice will be eased into practices, as confirmed by Carroll, but he is on track to start the opener.
