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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, October 11, 2008 Will Frye start for Seahawks? Hasselbeck's bruised knee and Wallace's bad calf could keep Seattle's top two QBs on the bench Sunday against Green Bay. By Scott M. Johnson Herald Writer RENTON -- On the verge of playing a game that might help save their season, the Seattle Seahawks will apparently have to do it without their offensive leader. After saying earlier this week that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was in no danger of missing Sunday's game against Green Bay, head coach Mike Holmgren said Friday that the former Pro Bowler is unlikely to play. On the official injury report, Hasselbeck is listed as questionable. "The (knee), it just has not responded," Holmgren said, referring to the bone bruise Hasselbeck suffered in his right knee last Sunday. "He can't do much because of his leg. "It's not ligaments; it's not anything like that. It's just sore. And he doesn't have the green light yet to play." With backup Seneca Wallace still hobbled by a calf injury, third-string quarterback Charlie Frye is in line to make his 19th career start -- and his first as a Seahawk. "I've taken every (practice) rep this week, so I'm going to be ready to play," Frye said. "I don't know what Mike's thinking, but I'll be ready to play." Frye was 6-13 as a starter with the Cleveland Browns, and he had such a poor performance in his last start there that he was traded to Seattle two days later. Beyond Frye, the Seahawks have a lot of question marks. Wallace could be available as a backup -- he saw limited practice time Friday, but was hobbling around for most of the afternoon -- and the team added quarterback Travis Lulay to the practice squad earlier this week. Safety Brian Russell can also play quarterback, having converted to defense after playing that position for his first three years of college. Said Wallace: "If I feel like I can do it, I'll do it. It's not a situation (because of) Matt being out. If I can go out there, give it a go and help us out, I'm going to do that." Hasselbeck hurt his knee after getting sandwiched between New York Giants defensive linemen Justin Tuck and Fred Robbins in the first quarter of last Sunday's game. Hasselbeck finished the game but was in too much pain to practice this week. Holmgren maintained all week that his quarterback would be available against the Packers, but on Friday the coach was singing a different tune. "I made the statement that if he couldn't practice all week, he could play on Sunday, but I've got to feel like he isn't too vulnerable out there," Holmgren said, adding that Hasselbeck has not been totally ruled out of the game. Teammates were surprised by the news but optimistic about how Frye would perform in relief. "As a professional, you can't let it affect you," wide receiver Bobby Engram said. "I still have to go out there and do my job: run my routes, get open and catch the ball. "But it's tough when you've got a guy who's been the starting quarterback for so long and then goes down. We've all just got to rally together, and everyone's got to carry a little more weight." Said offensive lineman Sean Locklear: "For (Hasselbeck) not to play, you know something's wrong. But he can't. Charlie's going to be ready." Holmgren said that Hasselbeck was lobbying to play. "We're just not going to put him at risk out there," the Seahawks' head coach said. Holmgren also admitted that the Seahawks would probably lean on their running game Sunday, adding: "We were kind of heading that direction anyway." The injury adds another headache to a season filled with migraines. Seattle has already started eight different wide receivers this season -- Koren Robinson is expected to be No. 9 on Sunday -- and three Pro Bowlers on defense are playing with casts on one of their hands. But the possibility of losing Hasselbeck could be the most crushing blow of all. "It's a big adjustment, particularly with a quarterback you rely on a lot," Holmgren said. "But the season is full of adjustments. We had to do it at receiver, and we still have to do it at receiver. We've done it on the offensive line. And now we do it at quarterback." Notes: Holmgren said that Robinson and Engram were likely to start at wide receiver Sunday. … He confirmed that Josh Wilson will start at cornerback in place of Kelly Jennings. … WR Deion Branch did not practice all week because of a bruised heel and is listed as questionable on the team's injury report. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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