Seahawks notes: Holmgren won’t name starting wideouts

Published 11:49 pm Friday, September 19, 2008

RENTON — Courtney Taylor said he doesn’t like to look at it as a demotion.

But the Seattle Seahawks’ receiver is realistic enough to admit that his poor play will cost him playing time on Sunday.

After starting the first two games of the 2008 season, and having just four receptions to show for it, Taylor said Friday that he expects to be out of the starting lineup when the Seahawks host the St. Louis Rams at Qwest Field.

“It’s tough, but at the same time it’s a business,” Taylor said. “We need a solid group together to win games, so that’s how I’m looking at it. I’m not looking at it like a demotion.”

Coach Mike Holmgren refused to name his starting receivers on Friday afternoon, but he did say that it was “possible” Koren Robinson could sit out the game because of a sore knee. Holmgren did not know whether Robinson’s soreness was a pre-existing condition, but the injury has limited the 28-year-old wideout to very little practice time this week.

“I don’t think it’s serious, but I want him to feel good when we throw him out there,” Holmgren said Friday. “He hasn’t been playing much football in the last four or five months. We’ll have to wait and see. That’ll be a Sunday decision.”

Robinson is listed as questionable on the injury report.

The most likely candidates to start the game, if Taylor and Robinson are out of the picture, are newcomer Keary Colbert and Billy McMullen.

Colbert was acquired from the Denver Broncos earlier this week and has had just three days to learn the offense.

“We’re installing something new every day, so I have to continue to go over stuff every day and be ready,” he said.

McMullen saw significant time in his first game as a Seahawk on Sunday, but the Rams game could be a whole new adventure. The fifth-year veteran has never started a game at the NFL level.

The odd man out looks like Taylor.

While Holmgren did not come out and say that Taylor’s role would be reduced, he did acknowledge that Colbert and McMullen are likely to see a lot of playing time.

“Courtney will play,” he said. “I just can’t tell you how much.”

Taylor owned up to his lack of production on Friday.

“I would never hide from that fact,” he said. “Things happen, and I’m not one of the ones to complain and say, ‘Oh, I’m not getting enough touches.’ If you get one or two, you’ve got to make things happen.

“I feel like I can play 10 times better, but that hasn’t happened yet. I’m going to keep working my butt off to show my potential so I can get there.”

Taylor was named the Seahawks’ starting flanker after Bobby Engram went down with a shoulder injury last month. The second-year player from Auburn was expected to hold down the position until Engram comes back — probably in two weeks — but now it looks as if his time as a starter lasted just two weeks.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” he said Friday. “But I feel like I’ve learned a lot from it. From Day 1 to now, I feel like I’ve progressed. I’m just excited for the opportunity to work in this offense.”

Starters return: Left tackle Walter Jones, cornerback Kelly Jennings and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard were back at practice Friday, and Holmgren said they will play in Sunday’s game.

Jones and Jennings were held out of practices earlier this week as a precaution after suffering minor injuries in Sunday’s loss to San Francisco. Jones has a sore hip but said Friday that he “just took a couple days off and will be ready for the game.”

Jennings broke a rib but does not expect the pain to bother him Sunday. Bernard sat out Thursday’s practice because of a sore hip.

All three players are listed as “probable” for Sunday’s game against St. Louis.

Right tackle Sean Locklear also practiced this week after missing the first two games with a knee injury. Locklear will probably be available to play Sunday, but Ray Willis appears likely to start at right tackle again.

Kerney wearing brace: Three of the Seahawks’ four defensive Pro Bowlers have something in common. As of Friday, they are all wearing a protective device on one of their hands.

Defensive end Patrick Kerney joined teammates Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant on Friday, when he donned a brace to protect a sprained right wrist.

“All the cool kids are wearing them,” Kerney joked when asked why he was wearing the brace.

Kerney said he has worn a hand brace before, as he’s had a lingering injury. He does not expect it to hamper his performance Sunday.

“I’ve spent a good part of my career playing with a splint or cast on one wrist or the other,” he said. “It’s a fact of life playing on the d-line.”

Tatupu has been wearing a brace to protect an injured right thumb. Trufant broke a bone in his left hand at practice last week and has been sporting a club-like cast to protect it.

Said Holmgren: “We are leading the league in casts.”

Seahawks fined: An NFL spokesman confirmed that the league has fined defensive end Patrick Kerney $5,000 for unnecessary roughness in Sunday’s game against San Francisco, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that teammate Julian Peterson was fined $7,500 for his actions in the same game.

Kerney was fined for unnecessary roughness after putting his hand on an opponent’s facemask, NFL spokesperson Randall Liu said Friday. Kerney said that during the incident in question, he inadvertently swung his arm backward on a play that he did not realize had been blown dead.

According to the P-I’s report, Peterson was fined after celebrating a sack by pointing to the back of his jersey.

Big leg: Kicker Josh Brown isn’t the only ex-Seahawk having success with the Rams this season.