Renton, Wash. Duane Brown's hold-in is over. And so there is some uncertainty as to whether the Seattle Seahawks will have their Pro Bowl abandoned in Sunday's regular season opener.
"He's ready to go," coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday as the Browns will play against the Indianapolis Colts. "And we're glad to have him."
When asked whether the team and the Browns' agents were discussing any changes to their contracts, Carroll gave an indirect answer, with one year remaining.
"We're really ready to play football right now," Carroll said. "That's where we are and everything that's taken care of is taken care of and off we go."
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Seahawks and Browns have discussed possible solutions to their situation in recent days. Seattle does not plan to expand to him, but has discussed adjustments in his final year.
Carroll spoke to reporters after Brown had practiced for the first time this off-season. He was attending team meetings and walk-throughs, but was not practicing due to lack of a new deal. As he walked onto the field Monday at Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Brown playfully grabbed free safety Quandre Diggs and shared a hug with defensive end Carlos Dunlop II, who then clapped as Brown made his way into the stretching line. made a way.
Diggs also returned to practice on Monday. He said last week that he expected to be back and play in the opener soon after a personal financial matter was finalized, which was reportedly an insurance policy.
Brown's return seemed likely when Carroll expressed confidence last week that he would be available for the opener, adding: "I'm counting on him being ready." But that comment fell short of the announcement that the Browns would play against Indianapolis.
"She's really healthy right now and I'm really thrilled for her," Carroll said Monday. "It was one of the things that we realized about the process of it being that we wouldn't wear him at all during camp. ... so he's getting new legs. He wants to play the tight end. We probably won't find out." That chance, but he's asking."
The Browns are seeking a new contract for most of their off season as they enter the final year of their three-year extension of $34.5 million. That 2018 deal averaged $11.5 million now per spotack, ranking 16th among left tackles.
The Browns have made four Pro Bowls in 14 seasons, finished second last season in near-block win rate to ESPN, and have been the undisputed leader of Seattle's offensive line. But he turned 36 last week, has dealt with knee issues in recent seasons and has largely managed his workload in practice. Thus the Seahawks have been of the view that he is at that stage of his career in which it makes the most sense to take a year-to-year approach with his contract.
The Browns are set to make up to $11.5 million in 2021 -- a base salary of $10 million, $1 million in per-game roster bonuses and $500,000 in incentives. A basic salary amount of $10 million for game checks worth more than $550,000, which he will forfeit for each game he refuses to play during the regular season.
Uncertainty with the Browns had quarterback Russell Wilson feeling nervous about the prospect of playing without his best offensive lineman. Pass protection was one of the biggest issues that caused Wilson's frustration with the organization to surface in February, adding an underlying layer of importance to Brown's position.
"We have to figure it out because we need Duane Brown," Wilson said on Aug.
While Brown and Diggs are back, tight end Colby Parkinson will not play on Sunday as he continues to recover from his leg injury, Carroll said. The Seahawks promoted Tyler Mabry from their practice squad to give him a third healthy tight end as Parkinson continues to work his way up.
Rookie cornerback Trey Brown (knee) also remains out while safety Ryan Neal (oblique) returned to practice on Monday.