KIRKLAND – If it weren’t for broken clavicles, Alex Bannister wouldn’t get any breaks at all.
The Seattle Seahawks’ hard-luck wide receiver got more bad news Monday, when it was determined that he had broken his right clavicle for the third time in 11 months. He is expected to miss at least eight weeks, although as of Monday afternoon the Seahawks were toying with the idea of officially ending Bannister’s season by placing him on injured reserve.
“Obviously the young man is disappointed, to say the least,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. “He did crack it again (in Sunday’s win over Atlanta), and we haven’t decided what we’re going to do yet.”
Bannister originally broke his clavicle in a game on Oct. 31, 2004. He missed the rest of the 2004 season and a May minicamp, then broke it again during a June minicamp practice. Bannister was held out of the entire preseason and training camp, eventually returning to practice the week before the regular season opener.
He broke the bone again in the same place during the second half of Sunday’s 21-18 win over Atlanta.
The impact will be felt mostly on special teams, where Bannister had so much success that he was named to the 2003 Pro Bowl.
“It’s tough, because he’s one of our soldiers,” kick returner Josh Scobey said. “Anytime you lose one of your soldiers, it weakens the bond. We’ve just got to step up, keep going, and hope that he gets back and helps us down the road.”
No opportunities: Over the first two seasons of his NFL career, Seahawks kicker Josh Brown had never had back-to-back games without a field goal attempt.
Two weeks into his third season, Brown is still without an attempt.
“It’s good when the offense puts points on the board,” he said. “But as far as being a field goal kicker, you like to get the playing time.
“… There will be opportunities. There’s no quota I have to meet as far as a number of kicks. I just have to be ready when the time comes.”
Other than extra points and kickoffs, Brown’s only playing time this season came on a quick-kick in the first quarter of Sunday’s game. Brown lined up in field-goal formation at the Falcons’ 34-yard line, but took a direct snap from J.P. Darche and pooch-kicked the ball to the Atlanta 14.
While Brown readily did what the coaches asked of him, he would have rather had a shot at the 53-yard field goal.
“I would sure as heck like the attempt,” he said. “I love the big ones. I like what it does for the momentum of the game. When you hit a big one like that, the fans really come alive. If the opportunity comes, we’ll be ready.”
Brown and Houston’s Kris Brown are the only two NFL kickers not to have attempted a field goal this season.
No payback for Scobey: Even though he got cut after three seasons with the Cardinals, Scobey won’t have revenge on his mind when Arizona comes to Qwest Field this Sunday.
“You’ve got to go out and treat it like any other game,” said the Seahawks’ kickoff return man, who was released by the Cardinals on Aug. 22. “You can’t get caught up in the emotions of, ‘I’ve got to get them back because of what they did to me.’
“It’s just another game. I know those guys, they’ve got some great people over there, but it’s just about me going out there and doing what I’ve got to do to make this team the best it can be.”
Scobey was released a few days before the preseason finale because the Cardinals were planning on using veteran free agent J.R. Redmond as their return man. But Redmond suffered a season-ending injury in the final preseason game, forcing the Cardinals to sign kickoff return man Reggie Swinton.
Moving on up: This time last week, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck ranked 12th in the NFC in passer rating (63.1).
But, thanks to a mid-week statistical change and a solid outing against Atlanta on Sunday, Hasselbeck has moved all the way to 4th with a rating of 93.3.
Hasselbeck completed 20 of 31 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Falcons. He also benefited from the NFL’s decision to change one of his three interceptions in the opener to a fumble.
Familiar faces: Arizona has two defensive starters who spent last season with Seattle. Chike Okeafor is in a familiar spot at right defensive end, while Orlando Huff has moved to outside linebacker after playing in the middle for the Seahawks.
The Cardinals also have Mariner High School product Teyo Johnson, a tight end who was released by the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 5 and signed with Arizona eight days later. Johnson made a 13-yard reception in Sunday’s loss to St. Louis.
Second-half woes: At least Holmgren has maintained his sense of humor about Seattle’s inability to score a point after halftime this season.
“I believe I can say this without any hesitation: we will score sometime this year in the second half,” he said. “We will. Quote me.”
The Seahawks have been outscored by a combined score of 31-0 in the second halves of their two games this season.
Quick slants: Heading into Monday’s night games, the Seahawks ranked fifth in the NFL in offense, 12th in defense. … Offensive lineman Wayne Hunter, who is trying to come back from a knee injury, hurt his hamstring and won’t return to practice this week. … Holmgren said wide receiver D.J. Hackett (knee) could return this week, while starting right tackle Floyd Womack (torn triceps) could be back on the practice field next week.
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