Wallace says calf is improving

Published 10:35 pm Thursday, October 16, 2008

RENTON — As the days count down toward Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Seattle Seahawks are getting a clearer picture about who will and will not be able to play.

Seneca Wallace, who could replace Matt Hasselbeck as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback, ran the No. 1 offense Thursday and said that his sore calf is improving.

“I feel better,” he said. “I feel better every day. I’ll keep progressing every day.”

Asked whether he expects to play Sunday, Wallace said: “I always feel like I can play. We’ll just keep working and see what happens.”

The Seahawks’ hobbled wide receiver position, meanwhile, has taken some familiar hits.

Deion Branch did not practice Thursday while he continues to rest a bruised heel, and it’s looking like he might not play Sunday. Two other receivers — backup Billy McMullen (hand) and practice squader Michael Bumpus (shoulder) — suffered injuries at Thursday’s practice.

Seattle has already lost five receivers due to injury since training camp. Veteran Bobby Engram is the only one from that group expected to play Sunday.

Engram, Koren Robinson and Keary Colbert appear to be the top three receivers heading into the Tampa Bay game.

At quarterback, the Seahawks have yet to announce whether Wallace or Charlie Frye will start. Coach Mike Holmgren said earlier this week that Wallace will play if his sore calf is stable enough to allow the fifth-year player to move around.

Wallace said he ‘s not going to worry about the calf.

“Come Sunday, I just have to go out there and try to make plays,” he said. “I can’t worry about it. … If (another injury) happens, that’s why we’ve got backups.”