Seahawks’ Thomas Rawls, Jimmy Graham appear ready for more playing time

RENTON — It wasn’t just that Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham and Thomas Rawls got back in the action Sunday. It also was about how they came out of it.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said both players showed no ill effects Monday after seeing their first regular-season action since suffering significant injuries last year.

That means that the wraps likely will be taken off both for Sunday’s game at Los Angeles.

Rawls played 22 snaps in his first significant action since suffering a broken ankle Dec. 13 at Baltimore (he got two snaps in the preseason).

Graham played 17 snaps, his first action of any kind since suffering a patellar-tendon injury Nov. 29 against Pittsburgh.

Rawls had 32 yards on 12 carries and three receptions for 26 yards, and Carroll said “he came out great.’’ That could mean Rawls returns to the starting job he had before being injured. Christine Michael, who was the starter all preseason and Sunday against Miami. He had 66 yards on 15 carries in 52 total snaps Sunday.

Graham had one catch for 11 yards on the final drive, seeing almost all of his action in the second half.

“He was really fired up that he made it through,” Carroll said. “But he wants to play more. I know he wants to be a bigger contributor. He did very well, blocked well when he had his chances, and it worked out well. We got him out there, got him started, and now we’ll be able to get a lot more play time from him. That will really help us mix our different personnel groups and stuff like that.”

Quarterback Russell Wilson, who has become one of Graham’s closest friends on the team, said the day was particularly fraught with emotion for Graham, not only due to his return from injury but also because it came on what was the birthday for Tammy Myerson, a woman Graham referred to as a mentor who died in 2015.

“It’s an emotional day, to be able to come back from all the injuries, and the injury that he had and to be able to come in his first game and be clutch for us,” Wilson said.

Carroll not doubting Thomas

According to the football analytic site Pro Football Focus, Earl Thomas played as poorly as any safety in the NFL in Week 1, writing “he really struggled in coverage on Sunday. He was late with help on occasion, and missed three tackles on the day.”

Thomas didn’t seem to argue the point in a tweet he sent after the game, calling it “a rough one.’’

Among Thomas’ uncharacteristic misplays was a missed tackle on Miami running back Arian Foster on a 50-yard gain in the first quarter, and another on Miami’s touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Thomas also misplayed coverage when Miami’s Kenny Stills broke open deep in the second quarter, only to drop what would surely have been a touchdown.

“Yeah, he made a mistake on that one,” Carroll said of the deep pass — Thomas was supposed to cover Stills after cornerback DeShawn Shead let him go, assuming Thomas had the responsibility.

Carroll said there was no reason for Thomas to be off, just calling it one of those days.

“He wasn’t as sharp as sometimes he is, but he has had a great camp, there is no reason why,’’ Carroll said. “He just felt a little bit off. I saw it as a rare game. I’m not worried about it one bit. I’m disappointed for him because he had such high expectations and all that, as we do. But he will bounce right back.’’

Notes

• Carroll said rookie running back C.J. Prosise has “a little crack in a bone in his hand” but added that he should be able to play. “He’s wearing something to protect it so we’ll see how that goes,” Carroll said.

• Carroll said rookie guard Germain Ifedi could return after missing the game because of a sprained ankle suffered Wednesday in practice but added that it’ll take a few days to know. If not, J’Marcus Webb would start again at right guard. Of Webb, Carroll said: “He’ll improve. … He’ll just feel better a week later, and that’s what we’re counting on.”