Cornerback Neiko Thorpe has been a core special-teams player throughout his NFL career. His ability in the third phase of the game is a big reason why the Seattle Seahawks signed him to a two-year contract in March.

The former Auburn standout didn't disappoint in the opening game of the 2017 season. The Seahawks lost to the Green Bay Packers 17-9 on Sunday, but the performance of Seattle's special teams left coach Pete Carroll with plenty of room to worry about the team's offensive-line play.

"What jumped out to me was truly the special teams," Carroll said during his Monday press conference. "I thought our kickers were terrific. Our coverage guys -- Neiko Thorpe, D.J. Alexander -- were spectacular in their efforts and the plays that they were able to make downfield. (Punter) Jon (Ryan)'s kicking was just extraordinary in terms of controlling field position in the game. It's why we were able to keep them from scoring."

Thorpe will be back at it on Sunday, when the Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC West game with a 3:25 p.m. CDT kickoff. But he may be needed to handle more than special-teams duty.

Richard Sherman, Seattle's three-time All-Pro cornerback, missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday and was a limited participant in Friday's workout because of a hamstring problem. Sherman has never failed to answer the bell in his 97-game NFL career, but he's listed as questionable on the Seahawks' injury report.

Carroll said on Friday that the cornerback's availability against the 49ers would be a game-time decision.

If Sherman doesn't play, then Thorpe would be one slot closer to getting defensive snaps on Sunday. That doesn't necessarily mean he'd be needed, though.

Against Green Bay, starting right cornerback Jeremy Lane was ejected in the first quarter, putting rookie Shaquill Griffin on the field for the rest of the game. He'd likely fill Sherman's spot if it's open on Sunday, and Justin Coleman would continue to handle slot corner for the Seahawks.

Against the Packers, Thorpe took two defensive snaps and was on the field for 20 special-teams plays.

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Although he's always been on special teams during his NFL career, Thorpe has been a defensive regular, too. In 2015, while he was in for 216 special-teams plays for Oakland, Thorpe also played 457 snaps with the Raiders' defense.