Published: Thursday, October 1, 2009
Hasselbeck, Jones unlikely to play
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Elaine Thompson / Associated Press
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who missed last Sunday’s game against the Bears with a fractured rib, is not expected to play against the Colts on Sunday.
RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks will most likely be without two key pieces of their offense when they face the Indianapolis Colts Sunday.
Matt Hasselbeck, who missed last week’s game with a fractured rib, isn’t expected to play, Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. Also unlikely to play is left tackle Walter Jones, who has yet to play this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during training camp. It was the second surgery in just over eight months for Jones, who had microfracture surgery on the same knee last December.
Jones practiced all of last week, but did not play in a loss to the Bears. He will take some time off this week because of pain in the knee. Mora said Jones hasn’t suffered a setback, just that his knee needs rest.
But considering Jones is 35 and coming off of two knee surgeries, questions about his long-term future are sure to arise. Asked if he expects Jones to return at some point this season, Mora didn’t offer the most enthusiastic of responses.
“I hope so,” he said. “I hope so, I don’t know. I can’t tell you that the thought doesn’t cross your mind. I think we have to give him some time, I think he’s earned that. He’s had a distinguished career, he’s exhibited toughness his entire career. No one can question his commitment to this game, it’s really beyond reproach. So we just have to be patient and let him work through this, and then make the best decision for the team when we feel it’s necessary. Right now we feel the best thing to do is just keep working, keep pushing. Push a little, back off a little, push a little, back off a little, and listen to Walter, because nobody knows how he feels except for him, and that’s what we’re doing.”
As for Hasselbeck, Mora said the quarterback still can’t run and is experiencing pain when he takes deep breaths.
“When you’re a quarterback you have to run a little bit and in a game you have to take deep breaths, so that’s the holdup there,” Mora said. “As soon as he moves through that then we’ll start working him back in there.”
As bad as the injury news has been, the Seahawks could be getting a couple of key players back Sunday. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (hamstring) practiced Wednesday and if all goes well in practice this week, should be able to play. Cornerback Ken Lucas (groin) was limited in practice, but is also expected to play.
The pleasant surprise for the Seahawks is that cornerback Josh Wilson returned to practice on a limited basis only a week and a half removed from a high ankle sprain.
“He’s really coming along well and that’s a positive,” Mora said. “We can certainly use him again.”
Tackle Brandon Frye (groin) took Wednesday off but should be able to play Sunday. Guard Rob Sims (oblique) was also out and his status is still undecided. Safety Jordan Babineaux has a sore neck and didn’t practice, but that injury isn’t considered serious enough to keep him out of Sunday’s game. Fullback Justin Griffith (knee) may return to practice this week, and his status for Sunday is still undecided.
Linebacker Leroy Hill is “doing really well” with the recovery from his groin injury, Mora said. Cornerback Marcus Trufant, who is on the physically unable to perform list until the bye week, is “making the gains that we’ve been looking for” Mora said, and the team is hopeful that he will be able to make it back for the Nov. 1 game in Dallas.
Rankin added to practice squad
Seattle made a few changes to its practice squad, including the addition of former Washington running back Louis Rankin, who started the season on Oakland’s 53-man roster. Rookie running back Devin Moore, an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming, was released to make room for Rankin.
“[Moore] has just done an outstanding job through the first three weeks for us,” Mora said. “But we see something in Louis that we really like, and that’s size and speed.”
The team also released receiver Logan Payne and linebacker Thomas Williams in order to bolster practice depth on the injury depleted offensive line by signing guard Brian De La Puente and tackle Na’Shan Goddard. This will be the third stint on Seattle’s practice squad for De La Puente. Goddard spent most of last season with the New York Giants before signing with Seattle late in the season. He was a casualty of Seattle’s final roster cuts during the preseason.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
Matt Hasselbeck, who missed last week’s game with a fractured rib, isn’t expected to play, Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. Also unlikely to play is left tackle Walter Jones, who has yet to play this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during training camp. It was the second surgery in just over eight months for Jones, who had microfracture surgery on the same knee last December.
Jones practiced all of last week, but did not play in a loss to the Bears. He will take some time off this week because of pain in the knee. Mora said Jones hasn’t suffered a setback, just that his knee needs rest.
But considering Jones is 35 and coming off of two knee surgeries, questions about his long-term future are sure to arise. Asked if he expects Jones to return at some point this season, Mora didn’t offer the most enthusiastic of responses.
“I hope so,” he said. “I hope so, I don’t know. I can’t tell you that the thought doesn’t cross your mind. I think we have to give him some time, I think he’s earned that. He’s had a distinguished career, he’s exhibited toughness his entire career. No one can question his commitment to this game, it’s really beyond reproach. So we just have to be patient and let him work through this, and then make the best decision for the team when we feel it’s necessary. Right now we feel the best thing to do is just keep working, keep pushing. Push a little, back off a little, push a little, back off a little, and listen to Walter, because nobody knows how he feels except for him, and that’s what we’re doing.”
As for Hasselbeck, Mora said the quarterback still can’t run and is experiencing pain when he takes deep breaths.
“When you’re a quarterback you have to run a little bit and in a game you have to take deep breaths, so that’s the holdup there,” Mora said. “As soon as he moves through that then we’ll start working him back in there.”
As bad as the injury news has been, the Seahawks could be getting a couple of key players back Sunday. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (hamstring) practiced Wednesday and if all goes well in practice this week, should be able to play. Cornerback Ken Lucas (groin) was limited in practice, but is also expected to play.
The pleasant surprise for the Seahawks is that cornerback Josh Wilson returned to practice on a limited basis only a week and a half removed from a high ankle sprain.
“He’s really coming along well and that’s a positive,” Mora said. “We can certainly use him again.”
Tackle Brandon Frye (groin) took Wednesday off but should be able to play Sunday. Guard Rob Sims (oblique) was also out and his status is still undecided. Safety Jordan Babineaux has a sore neck and didn’t practice, but that injury isn’t considered serious enough to keep him out of Sunday’s game. Fullback Justin Griffith (knee) may return to practice this week, and his status for Sunday is still undecided.
Linebacker Leroy Hill is “doing really well” with the recovery from his groin injury, Mora said. Cornerback Marcus Trufant, who is on the physically unable to perform list until the bye week, is “making the gains that we’ve been looking for” Mora said, and the team is hopeful that he will be able to make it back for the Nov. 1 game in Dallas.
Rankin added to practice squad
Seattle made a few changes to its practice squad, including the addition of former Washington running back Louis Rankin, who started the season on Oakland’s 53-man roster. Rookie running back Devin Moore, an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming, was released to make room for Rankin.
“[Moore] has just done an outstanding job through the first three weeks for us,” Mora said. “But we see something in Louis that we really like, and that’s size and speed.”
The team also released receiver Logan Payne and linebacker Thomas Williams in order to bolster practice depth on the injury depleted offensive line by signing guard Brian De La Puente and tackle Na’Shan Goddard. This will be the third stint on Seattle’s practice squad for De La Puente. Goddard spent most of last season with the New York Giants before signing with Seattle late in the season. He was a casualty of Seattle’s final roster cuts during the preseason.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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