Seahawks CB Tharold Simon expected to have surgery

RENTON, Wash. (AP) Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tharold Simon is expected to have surgery on an injured knee in the coming days, head coach Pete Carroll said.

Simon had been held out of practice for over a week due to the injury. Carroll said Wednesday that the team felt the time was right to consider having a minor procedure done to take care of the problem.

''He's got real minor stuff to get done,'' Carroll said. ''We've got to get some things cleaned up. We're going to try to do this really quickly. If all stays on course, he'll get a little something done the next couple days.''

With Simon out, the Seahawks will turn to DeShawn Shead and Marcus Burley as their reserve cornerback options for Thursday night's season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

Later Wednesday, Seattle placed offensive lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre on injured reserve and re-signed wide receiver Phil Bates. Carroll was mum earlier in the day on Jeanpierre's neck injury after he did not practice all week. Carroll hinted the injury may be something serious.

Stephen Schilling will serve as the team's backup center.

Tight end Cooper Helfet (knee), running back Christine Michael (hamstring) and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (hamstring) have also been ruled out.

Linebacker Bruce Irvin (hip) and receiver Kevin Norwood (ankle) are listed as probable and expected to be available to play after returning to practice this week. Irvin missed the entire preseason while recovering from offseason hip surgery. Norwood practiced just one day in training camp before needing surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle.

The addition of Bates gives Seattle eight wide receivers. Bates made the 53-man roster when roster cuts were made last Saturday, but was released earlier this week when receiver Bryan Walters was re-signed.

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