RENTON — Through the first seven games of the 2008 season, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney has five sacks to put him on pace for his fifth year with double-digit totals.
That quest looks like it could take a hiatus this week.
The shoulder injury that Kerney suffered in Sunday’s win at San Francisco kept him off the practice field on Wednesday, and coach Mike Holmgren said it could prevent him from playing in this weekend’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I don’t think so,” Holmgren said when asked whether Kerney would be available Sunday. “He might play, but he’s not going to be able to practice much this week.”
Kerney injured his left shoulder during the late stages of Sunday’s win. It’s the same shoulder that underwent surgery for a torn labrum after the conclusion of the 2007 season.
“I think there is a little bit of concern, only because that was the shoulder he had surgery on,” Holmgren said on Wednesday. “In talking with Patrick (on Wednesday morning), he’s somewhat concerned. … It’s early, and we don’t want to be too much gloom-and-doom, but it’s pretty sore today. He won’t be able to do much.”
Kerney is one of the few Seahawks defenders who have faced Eagles quarterback McNabb in the past. He sacked him and forced a fumble in a Monday Night Football game to start the 2005 season.
If Kerney can’t play this Sunday, rookie first-round pick Lawrence Jackson would likely make his sixth NFL start. The USC product opened the season as the starter but was replaced by Darryl Tapp before the Oct. 19 Tampa Bay game.
“It’s not even a big deal,” Jackson said of his possible return to the starting lineup. “Everybody’s trying to make it seem like I’ve been demoted and I need to go out there and redeem myself. People forget that this is a challenging game. I don’t have all the answers. “At the time when they made the change, I wasn’t performing the way I expected to perform. I anticipated the change. It came as no surprise to me.”
Defensive coordinator John Marshall said that the team might have to alter its game plan on Sunday if Kerney can’t play, but he added that he has confidence in the rookie.
“When your number’s called, you’ve got to produce at a starter’s pace,” Marshall said. “He’s not a rookie anymore. He’s had enough learning out there, and now it’s time to get out there and go. He’s doing the very, very best he can.”
Second-year player Baraka Atkins, who has yet to play this season, would see playing time as a reserve Sunday if Kerney can’t go.
Tatupu “OK”: While he did not practice Wednesday, middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu is expected to be available Sunday.
“Tatupu is going to be OK,” Holmgren said. “(He) won’t practice much but will be OK.”
Tatupu strained his groin in the first quarter of Sunday’s win over the 49ers. Marshall said he hopes to have him at practice before this weekend’s game so that the defense can prepare as a unit.
“When you take a cog out of the wheel,” he said, “it starts wobbling.”
Tatupu missed significant practice time before last season’s game against the Eagles, and he finished with three interceptions.
“Now I feel better,” Holmgren said when a reporter brought that up to him during Wednesday’s press conference. “He’s that type of player. He’s so good in the classroom and prepares himself so well.
Also missing from Wednesday’s practice were Kerney, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (back), fullback Leonard Weaver (foot), tight end Will Heller (knee) and wide receivers Koren Robinson (knee) and Deion Branch (heel).
Weaver and Robinson are expected back today or Friday and should be available for the Philadelphia game.
Holmgren said that Hasselbeck and Branch are likely out for Sunday’s game, but both have shown signs of improved health. Heller could be back as soon as next week after missing two consecutive games.
Eagles’ Westbrook is back: The bad news for Seahawks fans is that Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook is back on the field and playing at his usual level.
Westbrook suffered a rib injury in a Week 5 game against Washington and was out two weeks, including the Week 7 bye. He returned last Sunday and ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
“He feels pretty good,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said Wednesday morning. “He had a pretty good day the other day, and I didn’t think he was 100 percent there. But he came out feeling good, which I thought was important.”
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