Engram still hurting

KIRKLAND – Bobby Engram’s two cracked ribs made it hard for him to sleep Sunday night.

The very likely possibility of Engram missing Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams could have the same effect of insomnolence on Matt Hasselbeck this week.

“That would be hard,” the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback said Monday when envisioning having to play the Rams on Sunday without Engram in the lineup. “It’s always been hard when either of those guys, Darrell (Jackson) or Bobby, when they’re not around. When they’re not able to play, it’s always difficult.

“But you’ve just got to do it. You’ve just got to find a way. If that’s the case, you’ve got to work around it.”

While there is still no timetable on Engram’s return, it would take a minor miracle for the veteran receiver to be available this week. He played most of Sunday’s 20-17 loss to Washington with two cracked ribs but felt even worse that night. By Monday, he was still very sore but clinging to any little glimmer of hope.

“I’m a fast healer, so you hope for the best,” Engram said Monday while dressing in the Seahawks’ locker room. “I wish (I could play against the Rams), but I don’t know. We’ll have to see how it goes.”

Coach Mike Holmgren also sounded concerned, although he has no official word on Engram’s availability this weekend.

“We have to be careful what we do with him,” Holmgren said Monday. “The doctors are going to let me know. Cracked ribs just have to heal. There is nothing much to do with them. He certainly couldn’t play a football game (as of Monday afternoon).

“… I don’t know. I don’t want to say anything today (Monday). It is pretty early to make that determination.”

Engram wasn’t the only one hurting Monday. Jackson continues to experience soreness in his right knee, but he appears to have a much better chance than Engram of playing in Sunday’s game.

In veterans Joe Jurevicius and Peter Warrick, the Seahawks have experienced backups waiting to step in. Warrick couldn’t play in Sunday’s game due to a groin injury, but he pronounced himself healthy on Monday.

“I’m cool,” he said. “Just ready to get on in there. … I’m ready to go right now.”

Warrick has started 55 games in his NFL career, while Jurevicius has 23 career starts.

“It’s great that me and Jurevicius can go in there,” Warrick said. “If B-Easy (Engram) and D-Jack (Jackson) can’t go, then we can go in there and keep this thing going.”

Warrick has caught only one pass with the Seahawks, which has as much to do with learning a new offense as it does groin and knee injuries that have slowed him down. After catching 70 passes in one season (2001), Warrick is looking forward to proving that he can still make an impact.

“I think I can help out anywhere, as long as you get the ball in my hands,” Warrick said. “It’s a great opportunity. Now is a chance for me to go in and make some plays. That’s what I plan on doing.”

Jackson (29 receptions) and Engram (27) are both among the top five receivers in the NFC right now. But there has been very little production at wide receiver behind them. Jurevicius (seven) and Warrick have combined for eight receptions, while second-year player D.J. Hackett is still waiting for his first NFL catch.

With Engram, Jackson and Warrick hobbled Sunday, Hackett saw the first action of his NFL career. But he did not get a single pass thrown in his direction, and he had a couple breakdowns in the blocking department.

Hackett feels ready to make more of a contribution on offense.

“You want to go in there and make plays,” said Hackett, who missed the first three games of the season due to a knee injury of his own. “You don’t want to upset the rhythm.”

With the Rams’ high-octane offense on the other side of the field, Seattle’s receivers will be asked to make a lot of plays this week. But it might be a few days until anyone knows exactly who those receivers will be.

“Bobby Engram has been so good to start this year, as has Darrell,” Holmgren said. “The other guys have to crank it up a notch.”