Thomas Rawls back to full-go at Seahawks practice

Running back Thomas Rawls (34) is on the field during day five of the Seahawks mini camp, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Running back Thomas Rawls (34) is on the field during day five of the Seahawks mini camp, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 92 Caption Close Thomas Rawls back to full-go at Seahawks practice 1 / 92 Back to Gallery

RENTON -- Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls returned to full contact at practice on Sunday, the first time since suffering a season-ending ankle injury on Dec. 13, 2015.

Rawls, 23, looked sharp, showing off quickness and power as the team practiced without pads in anticipation of their "dress rehearsal" Week 3 preseason matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.

Afterward, the 5-foot-9, 215-pounder said he felt good, though he acknowledged he had to "knock the rust off a little bit" and was still learning to trust his surgically repaired ankle.

"It's in the back of my mind, but I try to cancel it out and just play free," Rawls said. "My ankle is strong, a lot of mobility back in it. When I'm out there it's full-go, its full tilt so I don't really think about it too much."

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The second-year back led Seattle with 830 rushing yards in 2015, averaging a whopping 5.65 yards per carry after being pressed into action with Marshawn Lynch sidelined due to injury. With Lynch now retired, Rawls and former second-round pick Christine Michael look like a potent duo to lead the team's stable of running backs.

"He looks really good and I think the signs are very positive that he's going to be ready in a couple weeks to play," head coach Pete Carroll said after practice. "Right now we just want to see him come back day after day and keep battling, really digging in like he does and competing like he does, just to show that he's alright. He's doing everything right so we're really happy with him."

Rawls said he didn't know if he'd be available for any of the two remaining preseason games, but felt confident he'd be back on the field by the time the Seahawks host the Miami Dolphins in the regular-season opener on Sept. 11.

"Whenever my number is called," Rawls said. "If I'm out there (for the preseason), I'm out there. If I'm not, I know I will be ready by the first game."

Here are some more injury updates:

Tight end Jimmy Graham continues to improve as he rehabs from a torn patellar tendon. Carroll said the team saw progress in Graham's knee after running a couple of tests over the weekend. "He had some tests and stuff like that over the weekend and we're very positive," Carroll said. "We're just trying to find ways to keep making steps and we're very careful to do the right things. His mentality is good and his attitude is really good about it."

Carroll said he expected rookie C.J. Prosise to return to practice on Monday after sitting out on Sunday. If all goes well, the third-round pick could see his first game action Thursday night versus Dallas. "It's really an important week for us to get him back," Carroll said, "just so he can hopefully get into practice every day and get his process started, give him a chance to see where he fits in."

Rookie tight end Nick Vannett suffered a high ankle sprain in last Thursday's preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and the team doesn't currently have a timetable for his recovery. "He's surprisingly feeling pretty good," Carroll said. "He got a pretty good sprain, it looked like from all the tests, but he's responded really well. I don't know what that means, but the trainers are really pleased about that."

Rookie defensive tackle Jarran Reed, the team's second-round pick, was dealing with what Carroll called a "sore toe" while also reaggravating an ankle injury he suffered earlier in training camp.

Middle linebacker Brock Coyle, who missed time in training camp with an oblique injury, is now dealing with a calf problem.

Wide receiver Kasen Williams did not practice on Monday and is still day-to-day with a hamstring issue.

Strong safety Kam Chancellor, defensive tackle Jordan Hill and tackle J'Marcus Webb all returned to practice on Sunday, though only Webb took part in team drills.

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