| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 4:49 am |
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Sports 
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Seahawks are healing Ailing players starting to return, although Hasselbeck questionable for Saturday's game KIRKLAND -- Piece by piece, the Seattle Seahawks are beginning to look like themselves again.Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and defensive end Patrick Kerney were among four starters who returned to practice Thursday morning, and more could be on the way next week. Coach Mike Holmgren did not rule out the possibility of Hasselbeck playing in Saturday's preseason home opener, even though the quarterback has missed four practice days this week while nursing a sore back. "He could play," Holmgren said, adding that the sore back was "more of an irritation than an injury." A more realistic scenario would be to start Charlie Frye and led Seattle's third-string quarterback get extended work before handing the reins to Seneca Wallace. Asked whether Frye would start in Saturday's game against Chicago, Holmgren said: "We haven't decided yet." After watching Thursday's afternoon practice from the sidelines, Hasselbeck said that he doesn't expect to play Saturday. "I have got a feeling, based on (practice) reps, but I haven't been told anything," he said. "I knew at some point this preseason, they were going to give Charlie more opportunities to show what he can do in a game. So I've got a feeling, but that's all it is: a feeling." The quarterback returned to the field for the morning practice, spending most of the session stretching his back between passes. He took part in position drills but did not participate when the team started running 11-on-11 situations. "I really am fine," he told reporters later that afternoon. "I had a tight back earlier in the week, but I probably shouldn't have even said anything (to the coaches). But I'm fine. The worst part is standing around, ironically." He added that his back started hurting when the Seahawks' plane touched down in Minnesota last Thursday. The muscles tightened up during Friday's preseason opener. "It got worse, not better," he said. Holmgren didn't seem overly concerned about Hasselbeck's health, but he is being careful. "We're just going to play that one a little easy," he said. "But it's nothing. I would think that he could play in a game if he had to." Kerney has practiced in about a half-dozen practices during training camp because of a strained left calf. He returned to action earlier this week but did not make it through a full practice. On Thursday, he worked with the No. 1 defense and appeared to have no limitations. Also returning to the practice field were fullback Leonard Weaver, who had been out two days because of a strained hamstring, and right tackle Sean Locklear, who took Wednesday practices off so he could rest a sore knee. Veteran defensive back Jordan Babineaux, a reserve, returned after missing more than a week with a knee injury. The only starters still sidelined are center Chris Spencer and wide receivers Bobby Engram and Deion Branch. Neither receiver is expected to practice during the preseason, while Spencer has been out longer than expected because of a strained back. "It's one of those situations where he's got to come back," Holmgren said of Spencer. "Sooner (rather) than later." Thirty-six players from the original training camp roster have missed at least one practice this camp. Tapp in the dark: With Kerney back practicing on the first team, defensive end Darryl Tapp unofficially took his place with the No. 2 defense. Tapp was the Seahawks' starter at right defensive end in 2007, but his starting job came into question when Seattle selected USC's Lawrence Jackson in the first round of the April draft. Jackson has spent all week working as the first-team end on the right side, while Tapp filled in for Kerney on the left side. "Regardless of what happens, you've still got to hit the practice field," he said. "You've got to move forward." Asked what role he expects to have this season, Tapp said: "We'll find out together." Punting battle heats up: While Ryan Plackemeier was watching from the sideline, 26-year-old punter Reggie Hodges made a serious push for a roster spot. Plackemeier returned to the field this week, shook off the rust, and has re-asserted himself in terms of quality kicks at practice. "I knew it would be a competition even if I was healthy coming into camp," said Plackemeier, who missed the start of training camp because of a torn pectoral muscle. "… It's never a bad thing to kick well at this level, for him or for me. The ideal situation would be that we both have jobs this fall." Good-bye, Kirkland: The Seahawks held their final full practices at their Kirkland facility on Thursday. On Monday, the team will resume practicing at its new facility in Renton. "It'll take some time before that building becomes like a nice pair of slippers," Holmgren said. The Seahawks will hold one final session today in Kirkland, with a short walk-through practice that is closed to the media. Quick slants: Wide receiver Jordan Kent made a nice catch during Thursday's morning practice, out-leaping cornerback Kevin Hobbs for the ball in the end zone. But on the next play, Kent dropped an easy pass from Seneca Wallace and drew the ire of Holmgren. … Julius Jones is starting at running back this Saturday, but the Seahawks have not yet decided whether he or Maurice Morris will start the Sept. 7 regular-season opener. Said Holmgren of the regular season: "They're both going to play." |
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- Ruling expected on Sultan beating statement
- ‘Roadkill’ caucus seeks a voice for centrist Democrats
- Police seek witnesses in two accidents
- PAWS calls out for critter care-givers
- Boeing has a busy test schedule
- Ex-Boeing engineer jailed for espionage
- Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?
- Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches
(10) - State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle (9)
- School levies in Snohomish County all passing, Marysville bond failing (6)
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (4)
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up (3)
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday (3)
- Two suspects sought in Everett shooting that injured two (3)
- Lynnwood makes law against too tall lawns (3)
- Schools do well in levy elections (2)
- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last (2)
- Jackson girls outlast Meadowdale owdale
- OBT raises barre in children’s program
- Junior firefighters
- School levies passing
- Mavericks topple Wolfpack
- Get a second look at Second City Feb. 13
- Sports Briefs
- Warriors advance 11 to regional meet
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
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