Rogers making his mark at wide receiver
Published 9:00 pm Monday, August 27, 2001
By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – The Seattle Seahawks have invested four draft picks over the past two seasons toward shoring up their receiving corps. Yet they had to rely on a 5-foot-7 return man to make the first big reception of the preseason.
“I didn’t expect to go out and score a touchdown on that play, but it happened,” said return man-turned-running back-turned-wide receiver Charlie Rogers, who caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hasselbeck in Saturday’s 28-18 preseason win over San Francisco. “I was excited. You saw how excited I got. I don’t think I’ve ever been that excited before.”
Rogers has never caught an NFL pass in a regular-season game, and had been used as a running back for the first two weeks of the preseason. Yet after pleading with coach Mike Holmgren for a chance to play wide receiver with the No. 1 offense, Rogers delivered with a touchdown reception on Seattle’s first drive Saturday.
“I was telling him all week, ‘I can play, Coach. I can play,’” Rogers said. “He finally threw me out there and I made a play.”
Said Holmgren: “He ran a very nice route, and (made) a good catch. But now he’s very, very hard to live with. I like him so much that I put up with him.”
Rogers spent his rookie year in 1999 as a wide receiver, but never had a pass thrown his way in games. He was converted to a running back last season, but did not see any playing time with the offense.
The catch he made Saturday came after the first time he had lined up as a receiver all preseason. Rogers was again working with the wideouts at Monday’s practice, and Holmgren said there is a chance he’ll use Rogers in a game situation again.
Five players cut: The official deadline for getting NFL rosters down to 65 players is today, but the Seahawks made their cuts a day early.
Wide receiver Todd Floyd, linebacker Paris Lenon, defensive lineman Emile Palmer and defensive backs Donnie Caldwell and Tawambi Settles were released.
Seattle has 73 players on the roster, eight of which are exempt from this cut because they participated in NFL Europe earlier in the summer. The final cuts must be made by Sunday, at which time the roster must be down to 53 players.
Final word: Holmgren continues to rave about the play of rookie guard Steve Hutchinson.
“He should be one of those guys where when he goes to one Pro Bowl, he should go for the next 10 years,” Holmgren said. “He is really good. It’s tough being a rookie, and I don’t want to give him too much extra pressure, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.”
Quick slants: After missing more than two weeks worth of practices and games to rest a neck stinger, offensive tackle Chris McIntosh was back on the practice field Monday. McIntosh’s return left the offensive line with 11 players, meaning Todd Weiner and Floyd Wedderburn saw time at both left and right tackle. Holmgren said there is a chance McIntosh will be held out of Saturday’s preseason finale. … Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck practiced Monday and didn’t appear to be hampered by the minor ankle injury he suffered Saturday. … Wide receiver James Williams was held out of practice due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Saturday’s win. … Holmgren said the backup quarterback race is “close,” adding that both Brock Huard and Trent Dilfer are scheduled to play in Saturday’s game against New Orleans.
