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<< Previous   of   Next >> Elaine Thompson / Associated Press  (click to enlarge) Ray Willis is one of just two Seahawks to start every game on the offensive line for Seattle this season. Rookie Max Unger has also started every game.   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 10, 2009 Seahawks still thin on O-line Seattle to start its third different offensive line in five games as injuries take their toll By John Boyle Herald Writer RENTON — All signs point to Matt Hasselbeck returning to the field for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville. Answering the question of whether or not the Seahawks quarterback will play of course brings up another important question: How exactly are the Seahawks going to protect Hasselbeck and his still-mending rib? Hasselbeck, who has missed two games since suffering the injury in San Francisco, participated fully in Friday’s practice and is listed as probable for Sunday. It’s also probable that Hasselbeck will look around the huddle at some point in the first quarter and perhaps fear for his safety. The Seahawks will start their third offensive line combination in five games against the Jaguars, a group that won’t include four of the five projected starters heading into training camp. Left tackle Walter Jones has been out all season with a knee injury, and tackle Sean Locklear has missed the past two games with an ankle injury. Guard Rob Sims will also be out with an ankle injury, and Mike Wahle, who was expected before camp to be the starting left guard, had to retire when his surgically-repaired shoulder kept him from passing a pre-training camp physical. So the Seahawks will instead start, from left to right, Brandon Frye, Mansfield Wrotto, Chris Spencer, Max Unger and Ray Willis. Unger and Willis are the only two to have started all four games this season. “I think it’s the third starting lineup in five games, so we’ve got to be smart with the types of protections we use, and we definitely don’t want to show the same type of protection again and again,” offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said. “So whether we are helping out with a tight end or a back, or leaving them on their own and formationally disguising it, it’s very important from a scheme standpoint that we don’t give the defense a consistent look so that they can game plan accordingly.” The lack of continuity on the line has presented challenges for Seahawks linemen. “Absolutely, it’s hard,” said Frye, who was signed by the Seahawks just a week before the season opener. “Offensive line is about working together as a unit. When you work together with somebody for a while you get comfortable with them, and whenever you have new guys getting throw in there such as myself, it’s not who you’ve been working with before and you have to jell a little bit and that’s what we’re in the process of trying to do.” And while all five linemen are charged with protecting Hasselbeck — or any other quarterback for that matter — they say they can’t worry about the fact that Hasselbeck is playing hurt. “You can’t really do that, because then you start worrying about it and start playing kind of timid,” Unger said. “You can’t do that. Our goal is to never let the quarterback get hit, ever. Period. That’s the mentality you have to have going into every game. With the injury, does it suck? Yes. And do we have to protect him even more? Yes. But we can’t think about that.” As of Friday, the Seahawks had just six healthy linemen on their 53-man roster, with Steve Vallos serving as the only healthy backup. There’s a good chance the Seahawks could make a move today, as they did last weekend, to move tackle Kyle Williams from the practice squad to the active roster. Whatever moves the Seahawks might make, the group on the field Sunday won’t look much like what the team was expecting at the start of the year. “You can’t anticipate this kind of damage being done to your offensive line,” Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. “You just can’t... who would have ever though that five games into the season three of our starting offensive linemen would be out? I wouldn’t have ever thought that. I’ve never experienced that before.” And despite the injuries, Seahawks players are confident in whoever takes the field. “If the protection is there — and I think them guys in front of him are going to keep him clean — then it’ll be all right,” said receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh before offering a bit of advice to keep his quarterback safe. “Three-step drop and throw it to me.” In addition to the three injured linemen, the Seahawks will also be missing linebacker Leroy Hill (groin). Fullback Justin Griffith (knee) and cornerback Josh Wilson (ankle) are both listed as probable. Defensive end Patrick Kerney (groin) did not practice all week, and is listed as questionable. A rare Trufant sighting Cornerback Marcus Trufant, who has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of training camp, was running on a field while practice was going on, and was also doing work on the steep hill next to the practice fields. Mora said the team is still hopeful that Trufant will be back after the bye week along with Hill, who is recovering from groin surgery, and Locklear. “He’s been running, he looks good...” Mora said. “It’ll be great to have him back out here after the bye.” Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. 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