First round pick Carpenter to miss 2012?

by Ryan Ebert

Seattle's first-round pick of 2011 from Alabama, James Carpenter, has a "decent chance" not to play in 2012 due to a knee injury he had in November.

Carpenter started nine games for the Seahawks last year (the first at left guard and the rest at right tackle) before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a one-on-one pass rush drill and had to be put on injured-reserve.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider said at the NFL Combine that Carpenter "had a long road ahead of him" for his recovery. In April he said that it was "overly optimistic" to expect Carpenter to be ready for training camp when it opens in late July.

Schneider made sure he had backup for his offensive line and for Carpenter and resigned Breno Giacomini, who replaced Carpenter after he got hurt, to a two-year deal worth $6 million in February and signed a versatile Paul McQuisitan to a two-year deal $4 million contract in March. They also signed former Bears left tackle Frank Omiyale for one year for $1.225 million and former Rams first-round pick Alex Barron has been in the Seahawks rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.

With the depth at tackle the team could place Carpenter at left guard which Schneider hinted to in February.