The Seattle Seahawks re-signed a familiar face Saturday just in time for training camp. Marcel Reece, the team’s starting fullback of four games last season, will compete for the spot again this year.

“Well that’s why we brought him back,” coach Pete Carroll said during his Sunday press conference. “He is very experienced and very versatile. He knows the system. He is a fantastic team member. As young as we are at the fullback spot, I thought it would be a really nice mix to have those guys compete and see how it turns out.”

For the Seahawks last season, Reece had just two carries, but the former Washington wide receiver had an impact in the passing game, logging five receptions for 73 yards on the year and two for fifteen in the playoffs.

In eight seasons with the Raiders, Reece was selected to four Pro Bowls and earned second team All-Pro honors in 2013.

“Marcel did a very nice job for us last season when he came in,” Carroll continued. “Immediately, you can feel his experience which we like, but we will see how it goes and he will battle. He came back in really good shape.  He looks great and we will see how it plays out.”

Carroll mentioned both Tre Madden and Kyle Coleman as options at fullback as well but called Reece’s experience and versatility a “great asset.”

For now, Carroll will let the players battle it out for themselves.

“There will be some special teams issue with that spot,” Carroll said. “So we will let it play out and it will take us a while to make that choice.”

Seattle Seahawks rookies Amara Darboh and Shaquill Griffin are still getting their first taste of life in the NFL and what it’s like to compete in training camp.

Despite playing different positions on the field, Darboh and Griffin have been fielding advice from one player in common, veteran cornerback Richard Sherman.

Darboh, who was drafted by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, told reporters following Day 8 of training camp that the All-Pro cornerback has aided him in developing his skillset.

“One of the first one on one’s, I went, I think I was a little too excited, I was going a little too fast on my release and then Sherm told me to be patient and all that stuff,” Darboh said of Sherman’s leadership. “I think all the DBs try to help the younger guys and everyone on offense because they know in return it’s going to make the whole team better.”

Another player who Sherman has mentored throughout training camp is fellow cornerback, Shaquill Griffin.

Griffin, who was selected during the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Central Florida, has been getting in reps opposite of Sherman during cornerback Jeremy Lane’s absence.

“I’m getting a lot of help from Richard [Sherman] and you know, every now and then I get the chance to move a little faster,” Griffin said after his first week of training camp on Monday. “So, now, I’m starting to get the hang of it. The game is starting to slow down for me.”

Griffin also detailed the techniques Sherman had helped him with in camp thus far. He noted that while being under Sherman’s “wing” wasn’t something he was used to, it was an honor to learn from one of the best.

“Really, right now is press technique and understanding what to look for down and distance and understand different situations,” Griffin said. “So, he’s helped me out a lot with that and teaching me how to watch film, you know, and go further on with that. I can’t say thank you enough for taking me under his wing.”

Griffin continued: “At first, it was a little different. I wasn’t used to being under somebody’s wing, I was the one who had to lead someone else in the college days. Now, I’m open to everything and I am ready to learn and listen. Especially from one of the greats, you know, it’s a blessing and I’m just taking it one day at a time when it comes to that.”

Sherman also reciprocated praise for the rookie cornerback on Monday, calling Griffin a “coachable” player and someone willing to learn from their mistakes.

“He’s sharp. He’s mentally sharp,” Sherman said. “That’s really, really unique for a rookie to be that mentally sharp and mentally on it. He’s incredibly coachable. He does a great job of just being coachable and when they correct a mistake then he makes sure he makes the corrections. He’s great in the run game, he’s not scared to throw it up in there and that’s what he showed today. That’s what they’re looking for.”

While the rookie-veteran relationship can be a difficult one at times, it seems like Sherman is adapting well in his veteran role and willing to help players at any position be their best.

Seattle Seahawks rookie Shaquill Griffin continues to impress veteran cornerback Richard Sherman.

Sherman, who worked alongside Griffin during the team’s training camp and preseason, raved about the 2017 third-round pick’s meticulous study habits ahead of Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

“He is poised. He is poised,” Sherman said. “He studies the game the right way. He actually came up to me today in meetings and it was a point I had already got because we play in Green Bay it feels like every year, but he came up to me with like a tip and I thought it was hilarious and he was like ‘yeah when the tight end’s right here and the receiver’s right here,’ I said OK, go ahead, go ahead, you know give it to me, but I think it is just a testament to his maturity and how he approaches the game and how he prepares.”

Sherman added: “He prepares like a starter, he prepares like a veteran. He is getting tips that we found, but I don’t know if I would have found them my rookie year and that is awesome.”

The rookie cornerback is listed as third on the Seahawks depth chart, behind Jeremy Lane and Richard Sherman. Griffin will likely play out wide while on downs, while Lane moves in to cover the slot.

Griffin will have quite the test come Sunday when the Seahawks face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Rodgers is known to target the man playing opposite of Sherman and will certainly not go easy on Griffin in his regular-season debut.

We’ll have to wait and see if Griffin is up to the challenge.

The Seattle Seahawks will be adding veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney after the defensive end agreed to terms following a workout for the team on Tuesday.

The team’s official public relations account confirmed the signing. Freeney also took to Twitter in a post to announce he’d be joining the Seahawks but did not divulge any contract details.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson welcomed the “Sack King” to the squad in a post on social media.

Freeney, 37, was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 111th overall pick in 2002. He’s played for the San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons over the last four years after 11 years with the Colts.

The seven-time Pro Bowl selection signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in 2016, playing in 15 regular-season games and three postseason games. He finished with three sacks, four tackles and 10 quarterback hits through 15 games.

Freeney started two of Atlanta’s three postseason games, registering a sack, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.

The Seahawks had an open spot on their roster after placing defensive end Cliff Avril on injured reserve Friday.

Freeney will add depth to Seattle’s elite defensive line while Avril remains on injured reserve until Week 15 and Michael Bennett continues to deal with his plantar fascia foot injury.

The list of players in the NFL who are older than Dwight Freeney is dominated by kickers with a few quarterbacks thrown in.

It’s rare that a player in a position like the defensive line, a position that prioritizes hitting, ever makes it past his early thirties in the NFL. This speaks to a couple of qualities Freeney possesses. First, that he is dedicated to his health, which takes ample discipline on and off the field, and second, that he has an insatiable desire to play football.

The Seahawks signed Freeney after visiting with him Tuesday afternoon. The move aligns with the loss of star defensive end Cliff Avril to the injured reserve.

“This is an extraordinarily savvy guy,” coach Pete Carroll said of Freeney during his Wednesday press conference. “He is so smart and well schooled and he has tremendous discipline about his part of the game rushing the passer. It’s going to help guys just being around him.”

Freeney has recorded 122 sacks throughout his NFL career. Most of his time in the league was spent in Indianapolis as a defensive end, although he did have a stint with the then San Diego Chargers, in which he played linebacker before moving to the Cardinals and returning to defensive end.

“He’s very aggressive,” Carroll said. “He was very active last year, he made a lot of things happen, the film looked great. He’s been sitting out and waiting for an opportunity. He was really anxious to get back to playing. . . We are thrilled to have him.”

Carroll said Freeney is likely to suit up in Week 8, figures to fit in rushing mostly on the right side.

Just four days after Dwight Freeney was added to the Seattle Seahawks active roster, the 37-year-old defensive tackle played in his first game in a Seahawks uniform.

Freeney, who signed a one-year contract with Seattle on Oct. 24, played 18 of 75 snaps in his Seahawks debut, 16 of which were pass plays, according to Pro Football Focus.

“He worked real hard,” Seahawks coach Carroll said of Freeney in a press conference on Monday. “I think he had around 20 plays and he had some nice penetration, was a factor in a couple rushes and he did alright. Got involved in a sack which was great.”

Carroll added that he thought Freeney, who also had two quarterback pressures, one tackle and a half sack on Sunday, did a “good job first time out.” He anticipates Freeney will be able to make a larger impact with more games.

“There is no way we will be able to gain as much as we will in the coming weeks from his experience and his ability to lead us in some areas, so that is coming,” Carroll said. “It couldn’t have a factor in this short of time but I think he will.”

Freeney’s snap-count percentage rate of 25 percent was slightly lower than the 39 percent of snaps he played with Atlanta, but the veteran’s workload will likely increase as he continues to feel out his new team.

Freeney said following the game that he really “feels good” about his first outing, adding that he’s always wanted to join the 12s.

“I’ve always wanted to be a part of the 12’s,” Freeney said. “The 12th man was always something that I always admired as an opponent because to play with that type of crowd noise and those fans behind you, that’s something that every defensive player wants to be a part of.”

The defensive tackle will have more opportunities to get to know his new defense in Week 9, as the Seahawks host the Redskins at home on Sunday.

Seahawks defensive end Dwight Freeney is making his mark in Seattle.

Freeney, who signed with the Seahawks on Oct. 24, has recorded three sacks in his first two games with Seattle–as many as he had all season last year with his former team, the Atlanta Falcons.

The 37-year-old veteran notched two of those sacks in Seattle’s l7-14 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, but according to head coach Pete Carroll it could have been much more.

“He had three other rushes that were just a hair, an eyelash from being clean sacks,” Carroll told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard and Mike Salk. “He’s as clean as you can get and the ball just got out before he could get out there. He can’t get their any quicker.

“Geesh, man. He’s producing.”

Freeney used his signature spin move on the Washington offense in the first half Sunday, causing Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins a 12-yard loss.

With Seattle trailing 10-8, Freeney once again struck Cousins, causing him to lose possession in the end zone and allowing defensive end Branden Jackson to recover for a Seahawks touchdown. The play was initially ruled a fumble, but later called back as a sack because Cousins’ knee was down on the play.

Freeney will look to continue his sack attack against another former team, the Arizona Cardinals, on Thursday. But the seven-time Pro Bowler knows from experience that his hot streak could come to an end.

“The thing with sacks is that they come in bunches and you never know when they’re going to come,” Freeney said following Sunday’s loss. “I can go no games or even the next four games with none. Hopefully not, but then all of a sudden I could have a three sack game. That’s just how the game is.”

Sacks or no sacks, coach Carroll knows Freeney’s stat sheet won’t always tell the entire story, but his impact on the Seahawks defense will be one that helps Seattle win games.

“He’s also effective in the games too, which don’t always serve him so well,” Carroll said. “He runs games really well. He’s really clean at it and sets the other guys up well, which he’s just a Pro at it and he’s a terrific addition.”

The Seattle Seahawks are in Arizona this week for a clash with division-rival Cardinals. The Thursday Night Football game will be a rematch from last season’s 6-6 ‘thriller’ in the desert.

Against the San Fransisco 49ers, the Cardinals newest player, running back Adrian Peterson, ran the ball 37 times. Coach Bruce Arians and the Cardinals are relying heavily on the 34-year-old veteran with quarterback Carson Palmer out with a broken arm.

“I think we just have to see how it goes,” Arians said. “He’s a phenomenal athlete, but I wouldn’t anticipate thirty-seven more carries, that’s for sure though. We’ll try to watch it in the first half, especially.”

While the Seahawks won’t be missing their star quarterback on Thursday, running back Eddie Lacy remains a question mark. Thomas Rawls is likely to start, but Seattle will still look to Wilson to put points on the board.

Wilson had a rough week against the Redskins but has been lighting up the field week to week, which has him in some early MVP talks. Arians was asked Tuesday about if the Cardinals prepare differently for Seattle’s franchise quarterback.

“Heck yeah, heck yeah,” Arians repeated. “He’s so different, and he’s so good at what he does; he’ll kill you from the pocket, but he’ll really kill you out of the pocket. You have to get pressure, but you have to be smart about it.”

Wilson and the Seahawks look to rebound from their Week 9 loss this night Thursday at University of Phoenix Stadium at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Kam Chancellor won’t step on the field again this season, but that doesn’t mean his locker room vocals will go unheard.

The four-time Pro Bowl strong safety, who suffered a neck injury in Seattle’s 22-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 9, is using his years of leadership and experience to help Bradley McDougald, the fifth-year safety who stepped into his spot.

“He is the type of player that can explain the game as a coach,” McDougald said of Chancellor. “It’s different for somebody that has actually been in the position and actually been in the shoes. A lot of players can’t really coach the next player behind them at their position because they just go out there and do it. It’s instinct. But Kam knows the game. He is really a student and he does a great job of breaking it down and telling me where my eyes need to be and just helping me play faster.”

The 27-year-old safety signed with the Seahawks in March as the intended backup behind Chancellor and free safety Earl Thomas.

Defensive coordinator Kris Richard said during Seahawks mini-camp that McDougald would be the first safety to go into the football game if anything were to happen to the two players.

Fast forward nine games and McDougald’s name was called to fill a void while Thomas was sidelined with a pulled hamstring. Just three weeks later, he moved into the starting strong safety position with Chancellor out.

“I had thoughts of being on the field with Earl [Thomas] and Kam,” McDougald said. “You know, finding a position out there that suited me and enabled the defense to grow. But I was also very ready for this opportunity. I said it many, many times, it’s a great group of guys out there and I’m just honored to be out there playing with them.”

McDougald has 57 combined tackles with three passes defensed through 13 games. His posted a game-high 12 tackles, seven solo against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 3.

Michael Bennett has been hindered by injuries all season long, but the Seattle Seahawks defensive end has yet to miss a game.

Bennett dealt with a plantar fascia injury that occured in Seattle’s 16-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams in October. The veteran defensive lineman needed time off during Seattle’s bye week to recover from the injury, but was able to suit up the following week to face the Giants.

The 32-year-old’s flare-up’s this season have caused him to frequently miss time away from practice and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says his latest knee injury doesn’t bode well for his reps in practice.

“He’s dealing with issues every week that are keeping him from practicing on a regular basis,” Carroll said. “I was just with him on the way out here and again, he’s not going to be able to go this afternoon. He can get through the walk-thrus, but he can’t go and he has a swollen knee that continues to kind of pester him, but he can make it to game day and play, and unfortunately, that’s the way he is working through it.

“He’s played a lot this year and he’s handled it well, although he is banged up during the week and we’ll get him to game time.”

The Seahawks defensive end has been plagued by injuries in the past. An ailing big toe caused him to miss multiple practices over the last five seasons. He also missed five games in 2016 for a knee injury that later required arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage.

Bennett’s presence is crucial down the stretch, as Seattle is down veterans Cliff Avril, Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor heading into a must-win game against the Cowboys on Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks have found this season’s replacement for Sheldon Richardson, agreeing to terms with former Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The contract is worth up to $2.7 million.

The Seahawks were in need of a big guy up front after Richardson signed with the Vikings last week. Johnson had visited with the Seahawks on Monday.

Johnson, 33, is a seasoned veteran, who originally signed with the Colts in 2006 as an undrafted free agent. Following his release, he bounced around NFL Europe, the AFL and the CFL until finally landing with the Saints in 2011.

After three seasons in New Orleans, Johnson signed with the Vikings where he remained for the next four years.

The defensive tackle started 15 of 16 regular-seasons games for the Vikings in 2017, recording 32 tackles and 2.0 sacks. Throughout his NFL career, Johnson has logged 162 combined tackles and 21.0 sacks.

Seattle re-signed defensive end Marcus Smith to a one-year deal on Thursday.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin has big shoes to fill this season replacing Richard Sherman on the left side. Griffin just began work on the left this offseason, having earned the starting nod at right cornerback opposite Sherman last year.

Coach Pete Carroll was asked about the switch during his press conference Thursday following the team’s final OTA.

Carroll said the reasoning behind the switch has to do with Byron Maxwell, who resigned a one-year contract with the Seahawks this season.

“Just wanted to do that, because we think Maxie (Byron Maxwell) has done a really nice job on the other side, and we thought if we’re going to balance it out and open it up, let’s open it up on the right side and see what happens,” Carroll explained.

Griffin, now entering his second year in the league, had a successful rookie campaign. Carroll said the young cornerback looks like a veteran and has put forth a solid body of work throughout the offseason so far.

“Physically it was no problem, he had played back in forth in earlier years,” Carroll said. “His mentality about it was fine, he was wide open to it. That’s most of it. If a guy feels uncomfortable and he’s telling you he’s feeling uncomfortable, then he is.

“He never balked at it at all, and there’s no signs of any evidence at all that it’s going to be a problem.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, addressing the media after minicamp on Tuesday, spoke excitedly about new wide receiver Brandon Marshall and what he brings to the Seattle offense.

“He really understands the game,” Wilson said. “He really understands third-down concepts, red zone stuff, he’s just super intelligent. He’s been one of the best receivers in the National Football League for a long time. To have him on our football team is a great thing.”

Marshall was brought in on an incentive-laden, $2 million dollar contract just before OTAs began. The 34-year-old is a six-time Pro Bowler and has over 12,000 career yards.

If he is able to haul in at least 41 catches this season, he would become just the fifteenth pass catcher with 1,000 career receptions.

Wilson is excited to add the six-foot-four veteran to camp.

“It’s exciting just to just be able to talk ball with him,” Wilson said. “We’ve been able to throw a little bit and obviously talk a lot of ball so it’s going to be exciting to see him.”

Set to hit free agency next March, nobody would blame Seattle Seahawks veteran linebacker K.J. Wright if he wasn’t overly enthused about helping a popular rookie who plays his position.

Wright has not only embraced fifth-round pick Shaquem Griffin, however. He and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner have made it a priority to serve as mentors to the former UCF star as he adjusts to life in the NFL, and they’re having a blast in the process.

Eager to teach his new apprentice, Wright indicated Griffin joined him to watch film Tuesday morning, aiming to soak up any bit of knowledge or advice he can from his Pro Bowl teammate.

“Yeah, I love it. I love it, man,” Wright explained. “He’s a rookie. He sits right beside me in the meeting room and he wants to learn. He’s very excited to get going. I was going over film this morning, just watching technique, how you should play, ‘Don’t line up right here, line up right here, even though the coach say so, just trust me on this. So it’ll be good. It’s fun working with him.”

The Seahawks’ coaching staff may not necessarily be keen on Wright telling his pupil to disregard their instructions. But with the success he and Wagner have enjoyed with the franchise, passing these tips down to a talented sponge like Griffin should only further accelerate his development.

Wright, 28, is entering the final year of a four-year extension he signed back in December 2014. Though he didn’t quite replicate his numbers from the year prior, he finished the 2017 season with 108 combined tackles, an interception, and a career-high six passes defensed in 15 games. Highly productive and widely respected in the locker room, all signs point to him remaining in Seattle after this season.

But if Griffin earns defensive snaps as a rookie and performs well, there will be pressure to make him a starter sooner rather than later, creating the possibility Wright could be the next high-profile defender to exit stage left.

Based on Wright’s contract status, fast-tracking Griffin would provide some potential leverage for Seattle next spring if needed. Still, Wright remains undeterred by his presence and believes it’s his responsibility to share everything he knows with the young linebacker.

Contrasting his approach to that of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Wright said: “I’m going to share everything that I got. It’s the circle of life because if nobody taught me, I wouldn’t be in the position I am.”

Wright understands the NFL is a business, and if Griffin emerges as his replacement, he knows his career “will be fine.” Remembering the impact players such as Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant had on him when he first entered the league, he and Wagner won’t shy away from taking the rookie under their wings to help the defense live up to their lofty standards.

The Seattle Seahawks added a playmaker to their wide receiver corps this offseason, signing Brandon Marshall to the squad in May. A seasoned veteran, Marshall has played with his share of quarterbacks, and now has the chance to see if he gels with Russell Wilson.

Marshall was on the field Thursday for his first extended practice as a Seahawk after rehabbing from toe, ankle and hamstring injuries.

“Yeah, there’s some things that we got to clean up and there’s some things that we got to see,” Marshall explained. “There’s some mistakes that we’ve got to make and correct, but the good thing about Russ is he loves ball and he loves talking ball.”

Marshall and Wilson have a combined 18 seasons on the NFL football field, proven starters and tenacious competitors.

“So when you have guys that have played a lot of ball, seen a lot of ball, and have high football IQ, it’s easier to get on the same page than guys that really haven’t had that experience so I think that we’ll be alright,” Marshall said.

With Doug Baldwin sidelined from a knee injury, Marshall will get his fair share of looks from Wilson this preseason.

The Seattle Seahawks may have to look elsewhere to find some depth at the nickelback. Veteran free agent Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was supposed to work out with the Seahawks on Sunday.

However, Cromartie texted ESPN’s Josina Anderson and let her know that he did not attend the workout, citing a family matter.

Cromartie has been linked to the Seahawks for a while now. Currently, Seattle’s only real slot cornerback is Justin Coleman. DeAndre Elliott was expected to serve as the backup, but he was released with an ankle injury that was slow to heal.

That leaves Seattle very thin at a critical position in their defensive scheme. It is still possible that Cromartie reschedules and that Seattle ends up signing him. If they decide to go in another direction, they could look at a few other free agents who have some experience in the slot.

Former Rams starter Kayvon Webster and former Raven Lardarius Webb are both unsigned, and either could come in and compete for a backup spot in the slot.

The Seattle Seahawks signed veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the roster this May, well aware of what he has brought to the table these last 12 seasons. Originally selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Marshall has been a staple in the league ever since.

Marshall, 34, has spent time with six teams throughout his career, including Seattle. But it took the Seahawks a couple of months to really understand all Marshall has to offer.

“It looks great, we are really happy about it,” coach Pete Carroll said during his Thursday press conference. “It took us a while to appreciate him until we were really ready to use him enough in practice and preseason to see him go.”

Marshall sat out a larger portion of the summer, easing back into practice after recovering from toe and ankle surgeries last season and a hamstring that sidelined him during the Seahawks’ minicamp.

“He’s always had a beautiful catching range and savvy and understanding and all that, but we didn’t know if he was going to be physically OK,” Carroll explained. “And once he rounded into shape and we could start to use him, he looks like a terrific asset.”

In Seattle’s opener against the Broncos, Marshall logged three receptions on six targets for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Marshall and the Seahawks will travel to face one of the wider receiver’s former teams – the Chicago Bears – this week for Monday Night Football.

On the morning of their final walk-through before heading to face the Chicago Bears in prime time, the Seattle Seahawks are making a roster move.

Seattle is planning to release defensive tackle Tom Johnson, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“They’re beat up and need the roster spot,” Pelissero tweeted. “Johnson’s salary is already guaranteed and they’ll likely re-sign him next week. For now . . .  he’s a free agent.”

The Seahawks have listed a number of starters on their practice report this week with various injuries and the health of the defense is quickly becoming a concern.

Linebackers K.J. Wright (knee) and Bobby Wagner (groin) have yet to practice this week, with Wright expected to miss Monday’s contest. Starting cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin (thigh) and Tre Flowers (hamstring) both popped up with injuries on the report, as did safety Delano Hill (hamstring).

Johnson, a veteran defensive lineman, was signed to the squad in March as a free agent after spending four seasons with the Vikings. Johnson originally signed a three-year contract with the Saints in 2011.

With his solid experience, the Seahawks can only hope he will still be available to add back to the roster next week, as intended. With the mounting injuries so early in the year, this might not be the only tough decision Seattle will have to make.

After 17 seasons with the Oakland Raiders, veteran kicker Sebastian Janikowski joined a new team for the first time this offseason when he signed with the Seattle Seahawks.

While it was no doubt an adjustment period for the 40-year-old, it sounds like he has adapted well to his new team.

“He’s having a blast,” coach Pete Carroll commented on Friday. “I think he’s really having fun. He doesn’t have much to say, he’s a pretty quiet guy. But I think he’s really enjoyed the change in the environment. I know he respects tremendously all the time that he had there but he’s enjoyed the change. I think to come back and feel like he feels, he’s really upbeat and really positive.”

Janikowski is a perfect 8-for-8 on extra points this season, and is 3-for-4 on field goals. That includes a 56-yarder, which ties his season-high from each of the last two seasons.

Janikowski has now scored 1,816 points in his NFL career, ranking 11th all-time. While it was somewhat shocking to see a kicker drafted in the first round back in 2000, Janikowski’s career numbers certainly make the selection look respectable in hindsight.

Al (Davis) always drafted guys who ran 4.4 or better,” Carroll cracked. “Seabass (Janikowski) doesn’t run a 4.4. It was a great statement. It worked. It was a great pick and Al showed his wisdom in that pick. He’s had an incredible career.”

Janikowski and the rest of the Seahawks will look to move to 2-2 on the season when they face the Cardinals in Arizona on Sunday. Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m. PT.

The Seattle Seahawks signed veteran guard J.R. Sweezy this August to bolster the offensive line. In his few short months with the team, he has played himself back into a starting position.

“J.R. has always been a terrific football player in terms of his toughness, his mobility, his strength, and now he has tremendous background too,” coach Pete Carroll explained Wednesday. “Remember, we started him and he had never done anything at the (left guard) spot and he grew into it.

“Now, the experience of going away and the new system coming back, he’s just grown.”

The Seahawks originally selected Sweezy in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of N.C. State where he played on the defensive line. He converted to the offensive side of the ball and spent four seasons in Seattle before signing with the Buccaneers. After a number of injuries and just two years into his five-year deal, he was released in June.

A right guard throughout his NFL career, Sweezy transitioned to the left side for Seattle this summer and stepped in following guard Ethan Pocic’s Week 2 ankle injury. Despite Pocic gradually returning to full practice, Sweezy will remain the Seahawks starting left guard for now.

“Yeah, we’re going to keep going that way,” Carroll said. “Everything fits together just right, right now but Ethan is working to get back in there and we have no hesitation of putting him in the lineup really at any spot, but I’m going to keep it the same as it is right now.”