Seahawks begin camp with line questions

In his brief career with the Seattle Seahawks, Rob Sims already has seen Mack Strong and Chris Gray unexpectedly have to walk away from the game because of injuries.

So seeing Mike Wahle suddenly retire on Friday after failing his pre-training camp physical didn't shock the fourth-year lineman.

"That's most of the time how people go out ... that's how a lot of them end their careers," Sims said. "It's part of the game. I'm sorry to see him go."

Wahle's departure didn't shock anyone inside the Seahawks headquarters. He had surgery in December on the same right shoulder on which he had surgery in 2006.

But his sudden retirement leaves a gaping question at left guard on an offensive line beset by injuries a season ago, but one the Seahawks think they can manage with some reshuffling.

The first switch involves Sims, who will move back to left guard, his more natural position. Last year, after Wahle was signed from Carolina, Sims moved to the right side. That experiment didn't even last one game, as Sims tore his pectoral muscle in the season opener against Buffalo and was placed on injured reserve.

Head coach Jim Mora said left guard is Sims' position and that it will be the right side that fluctuates. Options over there include second-round draft pick Max Unger, third-year guard Mansfield Wrotto, or newly signed veteran Cory Withrow, a former Washington State star.

"That was very strange. I didn't think about that until it happened," Unger said of Wahle's retirement. "It's a bummer that it happened, but it opens the door for somebody else."

On Friday, Unger split his time between center and guard. Mora also mentioned that right tackle Sean Locklear could see time at guard, with Ray Willis playing at right tackle.

Withrow could be an option, or provide depth. His agent, David Canter, wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Friday morning that the nine-year NFL veteran signed a one-year contract for the 10-year veteran's minimum of $845,000. The deal includes a $25,000 bonus. Withrow,34, a native of Spokane, Wash., played in college at Washington State.

Withrow has played for Minnesota, San Diego and St. Louis in the NFL.

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NO TRU: Seemingly always on the field, cornerback Marcus Trufant was missing for the first practice.

Mora said Trufant has a sore back and after last season when Seattle was hit with a streak of back injuries, the team is going to be safe. Trufant was placed on the physically unable to perform list. He can be put on the active roster anytime before the end of training camp.

"We want to be cautious with backs given our history," Mora said. "When Marcus is ready to go then he'll be back out there. It doesn't appear to be serious."

Only two other Seahawks' were missing on day one - defensive end Baraka Atkins was excused to attend a funeral in Florida and first-round pick Aaron Curry was absent from camp, having not reached agreement on a contract.

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HEAT WAVE: Players were thrilled that more temperate weather returned just in time for the first day of practice. Sims said he sat at home in his air conditioned apartment the last couple of days when temperatures reached the low 100s and upper 90s in Seattle and were even hotter in the suburbs.

The high temperature in Renton on Friday was 85.

"The last three days were the hottest days of my life and I grew up in Hawaii," Unger said. "I'm not kidding."

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EXTRA POINTS: Along with Withrow, Seattle also signed G/C Grey Ruegamer. ... DE Lawrence Jackson appeared to injure his left foot early in practice, but returned later and was well enough to get into a scuffle with OL Ray Willis. "I predicted today that Ray Willis would be in the first fight," Mora said. "I didn't know it would be the first day." ... A handful of boats pulled up near the Seahawks waterside practice facility.