Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Burleson's injury leaves Seahawks scrambling

Seattle may bring in outside help after finding out WR has a torn ACL

By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer

 RENTON -- When Nate Burleson walked out of the visiting locker room at Ralph Wilson Stadium outside of Buffalo, N.Y., on Sunday night, he took with him the optimistic view that had been a part of the wide receiver's personality for most of his 27 years.

Burleson had just suffered a knee injury that would likely sideline him for the near future, but at least he'd be back at some point this season.

Or so he thought.

When MRI tests came back Monday afternoon, Burleson's diagnosis was much worse than expected. The Seattle Seahawks' receiver suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the 2008 season.

"(Sunday) night, I was trying to bend (the knee) and figure how I would sit out for three or four weeks," Burleson said Monday afternoon, sporting his typical optimism while standing on his injured left knee without his crutches. "Then to talk to doctors and hear the news was quite a shock. It is a tough sport we play."

The surprising development was the worst news that came out of Monday, when the Seahawks were still trying to recover from their season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Running back Maurice Morris and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu were also hurt in the game, but their injuries are not nearly as serious.

Morris could miss two weeks because of a sprained right knee, while Tatupu's right thumb is unlikely to keep him off the field. Tatupu is wearing a soft cast on his right hand, although the specific nature of the injury has not been disclosed.

"Tackling, you've got to use your hands," Holmgren said when asked how the injury would affect Tatupu. "But he'll figure out something."

The news that the Seahawks would be without Morris for at least two weeks, and Burleson is out for the season, was a big hit to Seattle's offense.

"During any NFL season, you're going to face adversity," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "It's Week 1, and here it is."

Burleson's injury leaves the Seahawks woefully thin at receiver, where projected starters Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are already sidelined, along with third-year veteran Ben Obomanu. Holmgren called it a "very unusual situation," and, as of Monday afternoon, was still uncertain about where the Seahawks will turn next.

"We have to address our wide receiver position," Holmgren said. "There is no question about that. … (Practice squad player Michael) Bumpus is certainly a candidate. But because of how drastic the situation is, I think we have to look at other options as well."

Holmgren added that Branch and Engram are unlikely to be available for Sunday's game against San Francisco. Both receivers could be another two or three weeks away from returning to the field.

Seattle's remaining trio of Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent and Logan Payne has promise, but none of the three made much of an impact in Sunday's opener. So getting an experienced veteran could be a priority.

"If there were guys out there who had played for us and kind of understood (the offense), that would be the best way to go," Holmgren said.

Among the veterans who were cut leading up to the 2008 regular season were Joe Horn (by Atlanta), Chad Jackson (New England), Travis Taylor (Carolina), Samie Parker (Carolina), Reche Caldwell (San Diego), Billy McMullen (Washington), Darnarien McCants (Baltimore) and Tim Carter (Houston). Among that group, McMullen has the most experience in the West Coast offense, having played in the system in Philadelphia and under Jim Zorn in Washington.

Other candidates could include Maurice Mann, who went to camp with the Seahawks in 2007 but is still unproven at the NFL level, and Bryan Gilmore, who was cut by Seattle earlier this month but has more experience than anyone currently on the roster.

"Right now, my feeling is that we need a couple guys that have played the game a little bit," Holmgren said. "And so that might go to a different pool of players."

When asked whether he expects to throw to a new veteran or the current trio of youngsters, Hasselbeck did not seem to have a preference one way or the other.

"My job is just to make it happen with whoever's on our team," he said.

Burleson had a team-high five receptions for 60 yards and the Seahawks' only touchdown in Sunday's 34-10 loss to Buffalo. He said Monday that he felt a slight twinge in his knee during the first quarter of the game, at which time he put a soft brace on to protect it.

In the third quarter, Burleson crumpled to the turf after trying to make a cut.

He told several reporters after the loss that he expected to be back for this Sunday's game against San Francisco. Holmgren told the media that the injury was likely a sprain.

"I wasn't trying to be cute (Sunday) after the game," Holmgren said Monday. "That's probably why it's best to wait until Monday to really talk about injuries, and that's what we try and do. We thought it was one thing, and we had some reason for optimism, and then after the MRI (Monday), he has a torn ligament."

Burleson was the only healthy receiver with more than five career receptions entering the game, and yet now he's out of the picture.

Now Taylor, Kent, Payne and backup quarterback Seneca Wallace will try to fill the void.

"Right now our team needs us," Payne said Monday.

Holmgren was not pleased with the way his young receivers played in Sunday's game.

Said Burleson: "Once they get their feet wet and catch a few balls, they will be good."

In the meantime, the Seahawks will cross their fingers that Engram and Branch continue to heal.

And when also considering Morris' injury, the Week 4 bye can't come soon enough.

"When I saw the schedule, I said, 'Oh, boy, that bye is awfully early,'" Holmgren said. "But now it's probably going to be a really important thing for us to have that week (off)."
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA