KIRKLAND – While the Seattle Seahawks took the practice field without Darrell Jackson on Wednesday, they’re hoping to have their go-to receiver in uniform this Sunday.
Jackson is expected to practice Friday, and coach Mike Holmgren said there is still a chance he’ll make his return to the playing field Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
“The plan is to practice him Friday a little bit, legitimately practice him Friday,” Holmgren said, “and just see how he reacts to that, with the hope of playing him Sunday.”
Jackson has missed eight games – nine weeks, with the bye – due to a knee injury that required October surgery. While the Seahawks have won eight consecutive games without him, they’ll certainly welcome Jackson’s return. He was third in the NFC with 29 receptions when he suffered the injury four weeks into the regular season.
“Have we missed him? Yes,” Holmgren said. “But to have him out nine weeks and then just throw him in there and expect him to play 65 snaps, I don’t think that would be the prudent thing to do.”
Jackson started running late last week, and he’ll continue to rehab the injury through today before possibly taking the practice field on Friday.
Different team, different year: The Seahawks broke through another stumbling block with Monday’s 42-0 victory over Philadelphia, winning in the Eastern Time Zone for the first time this season and winning on Monday Night Football for the first time since 1999.
“To do that on the road in that atmosphere is a great thing for us,” Holmgren said Wednesday. “It is one of the building blocks that you can use down the road.”
This season, the Seahawks have broken through several barriers. They beat St. Louis for the first time in five tries, they won a game immediately after the bye for the first time in Holmgren’s seven seasons as head coach, and they snapped a four-game losing streak in overtime games.
“All of those streaks that have been brought up this season, all those negative streaks, we’re exorcising a lot of those demons now,” Holmgren said Wednesday. “Whether it was my won-loss record after the bye, or whatever.
“Now we’ve managed to win some games late, we’ve managed to win after the bye, we’ve managed to win a game on the East Coast against a good team. It’s good.”
Holmgren mum on fine: During his Wednesday press conference, Holmgren light-heartedly said that a mistaken report from some media outlets last week “cost me money.”
He was, of course, referring to comments he made about a phone conversation he had had with league officials following a win over the New York Giants. The league issued a statement that said the conversation was supposed to be confidential, and there were media reports that Holmgren might be fined.
Asked Wednesday whether his recent comment meant that he was indeed issued a fine, Holmgren paused for a few seconds.
“That will remain confidential,” he finally said with a smirk.
Injury update: In addition to Jackson, two other Seahawks are listed as “questionable” for Sunday’s game. Linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee) and defensive tackle Craig Terrill (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday but have a 50-50 chance of playing in the game.
Four other players were also on Seattle’s injury report. Linebacker Jamie Sharper (knee), safety John Howell (hamstring) and cornerbacks Andre Dyson (ankle) and Kelly Herndon (knee) are all listed as “out.”
San Francisco’s injury report includes four starters: cornerback Ahmed Plummer (doubtful, ankle), defensive end Bryant Young (questionable, knee) and running backs Kevan Barlow (questionable, knee) and Fred Beasley (neck).
Cover jinx? Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is on the cover of the latest edition of ESPN Magazine, sharing space with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Alexander will also be the subject of an article in an upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated. The date of that story is still to be determined.
Harden returns: The Seahawks added a familiar name to their practice squad, signing Michael Harden on Wednesday.
The second-year cornerback was on Seattle’s practice squad last season, and joined the team for training camp in August. Harden was cut from New England’s practice squad earlier this week.
To make room for Harden, the Seahawks released cornerback Brandon Haw from their practice squad.
No. 1 no longer: After Monday night’s game, the Seahawks dropped from first to fourth in the league in total offense (370.1 yards per game) and from third to fifth in passing offense (218.6 yards per game).
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