The Seattle Seahawks released their Week 1 depth chart Tuesday and running back Christine Michael was listed ahead of Thomas Rawls.

It's worth noting that the depth chart is unofficial and plenty can change between now and Sunday. But Pete Carroll suggested on Monday that the Seahawks may need to ease Rawls in during the opener against the Miami Dolphins.

"He's ready in the next couple weeks to get back in where he can start a game, take a game over and do all of the things that he can do," Carroll said. "It's still time to take care of him as we get him back. He only carried the ball a couple times so far. But he's done everything we could ask of him."

Asked to clarify what he meant by taking care of Rawls, Carroll added, "We’re just making progress with him. You don’t want to rush him. This is his second preseason game in a sense, as far as relative to the other guys. So we’ll see how he does. I’d love for him to carry the ball quite a bit in this game, and then we’ll know where we stand going into the next week. It’s just really bringing him along properly and carefully. We want to make sure we take care of him."

Rawls' only live action during the preseason was two snaps last week against the Oakland Raiders. He is coming off a season-ending ankle injury in December that required surgery.

The Seahawks still envision Rawls as the starter when he's 100 percent healthy and comfortable. Carroll's comments indicate that might not happen in Week 1, though. This could be a situation where the team needs to see what Rawls looks like early in the game before determining what kind of workload he can handle.

Michael had a phenomenal preseason and has earned the coaches' trust.

Last year, Seahawks running backs averaged 24 carries per game. Both Rawls and Michael will get touches and it could become clearer later in the week how Carroll plans to use them.

Meanwhile, tight end Jimmy Graham is listed as a starter. Carroll said Monday that the team wants Graham to practice as if he's going to play, but his status for the game is up in the air. If he doesn't play, it will be Luke Willson with the first team.

On the defensive side of the ball, Tony McDaniel is listed as the starter at defensive tackle. Jarran Reed (toe) could replace him if healthy.

Jeremy Lane is listed as the starting right cornerback ahead of DeShawn Shead.