RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright is undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday and his status for the team's regular-season opener is uncertain, coach Pete Carroll said.
Rookie Shaquem Griffin is Wright's backup at the weakside spot and would presumably start there if Wright can't play.
Wright felt something in his knee following Seattle's preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, according to Carroll.
"He didn't get hit or anything or didn't have an episode, just felt that maybe something wasn't quite right and took a good look at it," Carroll said. "So we're going to do a scope job and get him back really quick."
Carroll said he didn't know how long Wright will be sidelined or if he'll be ready for Seattle's Sept. 9 opener against the Broncos in Denver. Wright was among several Seahawks who traveled to Southern California last summer to receive Regenokine treatment, an anti-inflammatory blood therapy. Carroll said Monday he didn't know if Wright's scope was on the same knee he previously had treated.
Griffin, who became the first player with one hand to be drafted in the NFL's modern era when Seattle chose him in the fifth round, has been backing up Wright all offseason. He had a game-high nine tackles in Seattle's preseason opener and has been pushing to carve out a part-time role on defense in addition to playing special teams.
Carroll was asked how ready Griffin would be to step in as a starter in Seattle's base defense if need be.
"At this point today, he's gotta be ready," Carroll said. "We don't have any choice for that thought right now until we know more. So we'll see how that goes."
Carroll reiterated that wide receiver Doug Baldwin, out for most of training camp with a knee injury, will be ready for Week 1.
"He's back in action," Carroll said. "It's really good to see him back out there running around, feeling great. He's had a really good ramping up to get to this point. He'll work the rest of the week with us. He won't play in the game [Thursday's preseason finale], but he'll be ready to go next week."
Projected starting free safety Tedric Thompson is day to day after getting hit in his ribs Friday, according to Carroll. Defensive end Frank Clark didn't practice Monday after suffering what Carroll described as a minor hyperextension of his elbow against Minnesota.
Dion Jordan, the projected starter opposite Clark, has yet to practice because of what Carroll has called a stress issue in his leg. Carroll hasn't ruled out Jordan for Week 1.
"Dion Jordan is really ... he's making progress," Carroll said. "He's making progress right now and he's trying to make a bid for getting back here next week. As we said a long time ago, it would be a race to that last week, and that's kind of where it is right now. So he's doing a good job. He's really chomping at the bit to get back out on the field, and we'll just have to see how it goes."