Published: Thursday, September 24, 2009
SEAHAWKS NOTEBOOK: Seattle reeling from injuries
RENTON — Jim Mora opened his Wednesday press conference by using a bit of humor to bring levity to a downer of a situation.
“OK, what I thought we could do is get the injury stuff out of the way and then if we have any time left for questions, we can get to that,” the Seahawks coach said.
He then went on — and on — with a lengthy update on the team’s injured players.
The player everyone is wants to know about, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, still hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday’s game, though he didn’t practice Wednesday and might not at all this week.
“Not ruling him out,” Mora said. “But we’ll see how it goes. ... We’ll see where he is on a day-to-day basis, but he’s feeling better so we’re not ruling him out at all. But I’m not saying he’s going to play either.”
Mora said he wouldn’t be uncomfortable letting Hasselbeck play without practicing so long as the team’s medical staff and the quarterback felt comfortable with him playing.
The Seahawks do know they’ll be without tackle Sean Locklear, who has been ruled out with a high-ankle sprain. Walter Jones (knee) practiced without limitations Wednesday and could play, easing the loss of Locklear. The Seahawks also could get center Chris Spencer (quadriceps) back this week. He, too, was able to participate fully in practice.
Receiver Deion Branch also practiced and said he fully expects to play after missing the first two games with a hamstring injury. Fellow receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was limited last week with back spasms, was out again Wednesday but is expected to be back today and OK for Sunday’s game.
Fullback Justin Griffith, who sprained a knee tendon in Sunday’s loss to San Francisco, didn’t practice but should be able to play Sunday, Mora said.
And then he moved on to the defense.
Leroy Hill, who suffered a groin injury in the season opener, had surgery Friday. Mora said the operation “went very well, they were very encouraged. When the doctor went in and looked at it, it didn’t seem to be as severe as they had feared.”
The Seahawks hope to get Hill back after the Oct. 25 bye.
Cornerback Josh Wilson is out with a high ankle sprain, and will be replaced in the lineup by Kelly Jennings. Wilson’s injury also makes Justin Forsett the primary kick returner. Fellow starting corner Ken Lucas also was limited in practice with a groin injury. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu didn’t practice, and his status for Sunday is up in the air with a hamstring injury.
“One thing we need to make sure we do is make the right decision on him so this thing doesn’t linger any longer than it has,” Mora said.
Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who missed Sunday’s game with a calf injury, sat out practice as well, and is another player whose status is up in the air.
For those counting at home, that’s 12 starters or major contributors on the injury report just two weeks into the season, and that doesn’t include cornerback Marcus Trufant, who is on the physically unable to perform list, or left guard Mike Wahle, a projected starter who had to retire before the start of training camp because of shoulder problems.
After a nearly four-minutes injury monologue, Mora was finally ready to answer a question, which of course was injury related.
The Seahawks can’t just add players to provide depth. Because none of the injuries are of the season-ending variety, those injured players are still on the roster, not the injured reserve list, meaning there aren’t a lot of places to make cuts.
“We’re hamstrung because of the injury situation,” Mora said. “There’s really nowhere to go. There’s no moves to make, so you know what we’re going to do? We’re going to weather the storm with the guys we’ve got. We’re going to play hard and we’re going to fight and we’re going to compete and we’re going to get through it. We’re going to get through it.”
The return of Travis Fisher from a hamstring injury helps with depth in the secondary. He will not only be backup to Jennings and Lucas, but also could be the nickel back in passing situations. Mora said a decision will be made later this week on what the nickel defense will look like, and that the likely two choices are to use Fisher as the nickel back, or to move free safety Jordan Babineaux, who has also played cornerback, to nickel back and play Lawyer Milloy at safety.”
Some friendly advice
Clearly concerned about the long-term health of the Seahawks’ quarterback, Bears coach Lovie Smith offered some playful advice for Hasselbeck on a conference call Wednesday.
“If I was Matt I’d just take a few weeks off,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of football left to go.”
Practice squad change
The Seahawks signed safety Jamar Adams, who was with the team in training camp, to the practice squad Wednesday, and released guard Brian De La Puente to make room for Adams.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at www.heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
“OK, what I thought we could do is get the injury stuff out of the way and then if we have any time left for questions, we can get to that,” the Seahawks coach said.
He then went on — and on — with a lengthy update on the team’s injured players.
The player everyone is wants to know about, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, still hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday’s game, though he didn’t practice Wednesday and might not at all this week.
“Not ruling him out,” Mora said. “But we’ll see how it goes. ... We’ll see where he is on a day-to-day basis, but he’s feeling better so we’re not ruling him out at all. But I’m not saying he’s going to play either.”
Mora said he wouldn’t be uncomfortable letting Hasselbeck play without practicing so long as the team’s medical staff and the quarterback felt comfortable with him playing.
The Seahawks do know they’ll be without tackle Sean Locklear, who has been ruled out with a high-ankle sprain. Walter Jones (knee) practiced without limitations Wednesday and could play, easing the loss of Locklear. The Seahawks also could get center Chris Spencer (quadriceps) back this week. He, too, was able to participate fully in practice.
Receiver Deion Branch also practiced and said he fully expects to play after missing the first two games with a hamstring injury. Fellow receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was limited last week with back spasms, was out again Wednesday but is expected to be back today and OK for Sunday’s game.
Fullback Justin Griffith, who sprained a knee tendon in Sunday’s loss to San Francisco, didn’t practice but should be able to play Sunday, Mora said.
And then he moved on to the defense.
Leroy Hill, who suffered a groin injury in the season opener, had surgery Friday. Mora said the operation “went very well, they were very encouraged. When the doctor went in and looked at it, it didn’t seem to be as severe as they had feared.”
The Seahawks hope to get Hill back after the Oct. 25 bye.
Cornerback Josh Wilson is out with a high ankle sprain, and will be replaced in the lineup by Kelly Jennings. Wilson’s injury also makes Justin Forsett the primary kick returner. Fellow starting corner Ken Lucas also was limited in practice with a groin injury. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu didn’t practice, and his status for Sunday is up in the air with a hamstring injury.
“One thing we need to make sure we do is make the right decision on him so this thing doesn’t linger any longer than it has,” Mora said.
Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, who missed Sunday’s game with a calf injury, sat out practice as well, and is another player whose status is up in the air.
For those counting at home, that’s 12 starters or major contributors on the injury report just two weeks into the season, and that doesn’t include cornerback Marcus Trufant, who is on the physically unable to perform list, or left guard Mike Wahle, a projected starter who had to retire before the start of training camp because of shoulder problems.
After a nearly four-minutes injury monologue, Mora was finally ready to answer a question, which of course was injury related.
The Seahawks can’t just add players to provide depth. Because none of the injuries are of the season-ending variety, those injured players are still on the roster, not the injured reserve list, meaning there aren’t a lot of places to make cuts.
“We’re hamstrung because of the injury situation,” Mora said. “There’s really nowhere to go. There’s no moves to make, so you know what we’re going to do? We’re going to weather the storm with the guys we’ve got. We’re going to play hard and we’re going to fight and we’re going to compete and we’re going to get through it. We’re going to get through it.”
The return of Travis Fisher from a hamstring injury helps with depth in the secondary. He will not only be backup to Jennings and Lucas, but also could be the nickel back in passing situations. Mora said a decision will be made later this week on what the nickel defense will look like, and that the likely two choices are to use Fisher as the nickel back, or to move free safety Jordan Babineaux, who has also played cornerback, to nickel back and play Lawyer Milloy at safety.”
Some friendly advice
Clearly concerned about the long-term health of the Seahawks’ quarterback, Bears coach Lovie Smith offered some playful advice for Hasselbeck on a conference call Wednesday.
“If I was Matt I’d just take a few weeks off,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of football left to go.”
Practice squad change
The Seahawks signed safety Jamar Adams, who was with the team in training camp, to the practice squad Wednesday, and released guard Brian De La Puente to make room for Adams.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at www.heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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