RENTON, Wash. (AP) - The question asked of Seattle coach Pete Carroll had nothing to do with Bobby Wagner.

After the way Wagner has played in the first quarter of the season, Carroll made it a point to recognize how well his rookie middle linebacker is doing making the adjustment from college to the NFL.

Through four games, Wagner is the Seahawks' third-leading tackler behind K.J. Wright and Kam Chancellor. He's coming off a season-best seven solo tackles last week against St. Louis, but what has impressed coaches and his teammates is Wagner's savvy in getting the Seahawks defense in the right spots and making the right calls.

He's the first rookie to start at middle linebacker for Seattle since Lofa Tatupu in 2005 and Wagner's task this week could be his most difficult so far: keeping an eye on Carolina's Cam Newton.

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