The injury news that plagued the early part of Seahawks training camp slowed Friday, as Seattle welcomed back from Switzerland WR Sidney Rice. Seattle’s leading receiver from 2012 spent two nights in Europe earlier in the week to undergo a non-FDA approved plasma treatment on his knee. Suffering from patellar tendonitis, or “jumper’s knee,” Rice sat out the afternoon scrimmage but afterward thanked coach Pete Carroll for letting him make the trip.
“It was something that I set up earlier in the offseason, a little bit after the OTAs, and it was a long process with all of the things that I had to go to with all the doctors over there,” he said.
Rice, who last season caught 50 passes for 748 yards and seven touchdowns, said his knee was persistently sore, prompting the impromptu Euro-trip. The effects of the procedure won’t be felt for a few weeks, but the 6-foot-4, 202-pounder seemed hopeful that the process could prolong his career.
“I want to be out there on the field as much as possible so I can help my teammates win games,” he said. “That’s the best part of being apart of a program like this.”
Rice, 26, heard about the procedure “a few years back,” and after he discussed the potential benefits with Sam Ramsden, Seattle’s director of player health and performance, he opted to make the big flight. Carroll said Rice will return to practice Sunday.
Even if it proves ineffective, Rice can take solace in knowing he racked up some frequent flyer miles.
“(I went) 10,000 miles and it only took 20 minutes for the procedure,” Rice said. “I got straight off the plane yesterday after a 10-hour flight and came in, and my wide receiver coach, Kippy Brown, couldn’t wait to throw me in there.”
Seahawks sign Doucet
WR Early Doucet will finally have the chance to catch passes from a competent quarterback. After spending the past five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, the LSU product Friday signed a free agent contract with the Seahawks, who are missing Percy Harvin for most of the season and have Rice dealing with a sore knee.
Seattle released banged-up defensive end Kenneth Boatright to make room for Doucet. In 2012, Doucet caught 28 passes for 207 yards in 12 games, which are nearly MVP numbers when one considers that this man was under center.
