RENTON, Wash. - Seattle tight end Ed Dickson and defensive end Dion Jordan, both former Oregon Ducks, could return in time for the season opener on Sept. 9 at Denver, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said today.

Jordan has missed all of training camp with a stress fracture in his leg. Dickson has also not practiced all camp because of a knee injury.

But Carroll said today that he is optimistic that both are on track to play at the Broncos. That's good news for the Seahawks, who could use Jordan's pass rushing skills. He had four sacks in five games for Seattle last season.

"He’s pushing to get back now," Carroll said. "He’s working it. I know he’s trying to get back by next week. It’s going to be hard but we’ll see what happens. We’ll hold out a hope that maybe there’s a chance for the opener. We’ll see that. We don’t know yet. That’s probably ahead of the schedule that the doctors would say, but I know what he’s talking like. He’s going for it and then we’ll make good decisions with the information when we get it.”

Dickson, brought in from Carolina to start at tight end, is also on the mend.

“As far as Ed is concerned, we’re hoping that he’s going to make it back for the opener," Carroll said. "That’s what we’re shooting for.”

If not, the Seahawks will lean on Nick Vannett and rookie Will Dissly, a fourth-round pick out of Washington.