RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks are optimistic their two leading receivers and starting strong safety will be cleared from concussions in time to play Sunday at St. Louis.
Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Sidney Rice, strong safety Kam Chancellor and reserve linebacker David Vobora are all making progress from head injuries suffered in the past two weeks.
But the good news about those four players was tempered by a knee injury suffered in practice Wednesday by rookie right tackle James Carpenter, the Seahawks' first-round pick. Carpenter was scheduled to have an MRI on Wednesday night.
Baldwin, Rice and Chancellor were all injured in last Sunday's 22-17 win over Baltimore, while Vobora was hurt a week earlier against Dallas. Carroll said all four would take it easy Wednesday, but they were on track to be able to play against the Rams.
"We're looking pretty good. These guys are feeling pretty good," Carroll said.
Rice, one of Seattle's big catches in free agency, and Baldwin, an undrafted rookie out of Stanford, are co-leaders in receptions for the Seahawks. Each has 29 catches and nearly 500 yards receiving.
Carroll also said veteran lineman Paul McQuistan would start at right guard after rookie John Moffitt was lost for the season due to a right knee injury suffered against the Ravens. Moffitt was hurt in the first quarter and replaced by Lemuel Jeanpierre, but Carroll said the decision to go with McQuistan is more because Jeanpierre is the only reserve lineman able to play both guard and center.
McQuistan started three games earlier this season at left guard when Robert Gallery was injured.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
