RENTON, Wash. -- Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah practiced Tuesday for the first time since signing with the Seattle Seahawks in May, a significant step in his return from the shoulder injury that cut short his final season with the Detroit Lions.
And it's a sign that Ansah has a good chance to be available when the Seahawks open their season Sept. 8 against the Bengals at CenturyLink Field.
"Really happy to get him out finally," coach Pete Carroll said. "It's been a long, rigorous return and he's busted his tail. He's made it. We were hoping he would make it before the final week (ahead of the opener), which he did. And so we'll take it and see how far he can go."
Ansah was seen taking part in warmups and positional drills during the portion of practice that was open to reporters. Previously, his work had been limited to training on side fields as he continued to build back strength in his surgically repaired shoulder and work his way back from a more recent groin injury.
"He moved around fine," Carroll said. "He went through the individual drills. He'll do more tomorrow. He's on his way back. Shoulder is healed and his groin is healed and he's ready to battle."
Carroll joked that Ansah looks good enough to play past the third quarter of the Seahawks' preseason finale before saying he'll be held out Thursday night against the Raiders.
The Seahawks tend to have players coming off extended injury absences practice for at least two weeks before allowing them to play in games, which makes it significant that Ansah is practicing 12 days before the opener. The Seahawks need all the firepower they can get along a defensive line that no longer has Frank Clark and will be without Jarran Reed for the first six games while he serves a suspension.
"I think it is," Carroll said when asked if it was important that Ansah returned to practice when he did. "It will get information about him. Just to get the newness out of him and have a couple days to get back to practice again, I think will be really important to him ... He has worked really hard on the outside, he's been doing all kinds of drills and movement stuff and throwing heavy things and butting into stuff and all that to get ready and we feel very secure that he's ready to go now."
The Seahawks gave Ansah a one-year, $9 million deal that includes $6 million guaranteed. The max value is $13.25 million with another $4.25 million available in incentives tied to playing time, sacks, Ansah making the Pro Bowl and the Seahawks reaching the playoffs.
Carroll said the shoulder injury that receiver David Moore suffered last week is a non-displaced fracture in his upper humerus, which is expected to sideline him for the opener but not much longer beyond that. A source told ESPN that Moore is not expected to be placed on injured reserve.
"It's sore, but it's not too uncomfortable and so he's going to be able to make a really quick recovery," Carroll said. "What that is, we don't know. We'll just wait and see. But I would bet in another week or so, David's going to be chomping at the bit to come back because he's not going to feel much. He's tough and all that, and it's not going to hinder him in any way. We're going to work him through the 53 and count on him to come back soon, which is really good."
Seattle's receiver corps is already without DK Metcalf as the rookie second-round pick recovers from a recent knee surgery. Carroll continued to talk optimistically about Metcalf returning soon, though he has not committed to Metcalf being available for Week 1.
"DK will be moving around this week and we'll see where he is," Carroll said. "We have really high hopes that he's going to make a really fast return. We just need to see how it goes one day at a time. So he did some stuff today. All through this week he'll be working to get him ready for next week to see how far he can take it. We don't know at this time, but we're very optimistic about a really quick return."
Carroll was less certain about left guard Mike Iupati (foot/calf) making it back for the opener than he was last week, saying: "It's going to be a race to the finish for the first game. I don't know. He'll be close." Ethan Pocic has been playing left guard in Iupati's absence.
Linebacker Shaquem Griffin (knee) and rookie safety Marquise Blair (back) are expected to play in the preseason finale. Center Joey Hunt has a high ankle sprain, Carroll said.