Hackett shines – again

GLENDALE, Ariz. – While veteran wide receiver Bobby Engram has a chance to return from a thyroid problem this week, D.J. Hackett has done his best to make playing time hard to find.

Hackett had another big game Sunday, catching four passes for a career-high 104 yards and a touchdown in the Seattle Seahawks’ 27-21 loss to Arizona.

“Each game he has gotten better,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “We might have some decisions to make the next couple of weeks when Engram comes back.”

After catching just one pass in the first four games of the season, Hackett has 30 receptions for 409 yards in nine weeks. “It always feels good when you’re more involved,” he said.

Hackett caught two passes on a two-play drive that resulted in a touchdown during the second quarter, and he nearly made the play of the game in the closing seconds.

Hackett was open in the end zone on a second-down play at the Arizona 17 with 1:30 remaining, but Matt Hasselbeck’s pass sailed just out of his reach.

“There just wasn’t enough time for (Hasselbeck) to squeeze it into the right spot,” Hackett said. “He had to throw it into a window, and it was just a little too far.”

Dancing man: Nate Burleson joined Hackett and Darrell Jackson in catching touchdown passes, but he blew the other two away in terms of celebrations.

After catching a 5-yard touchdown pass from Hasselbeck late in the first half, Burleson pretended to squirt sun screen into his hand and wipe it all over his body.

“We’ve been playing in cold weather the last couple of weeks, so I was putting on my sun block in sunny weather,” Burleson said, ignoring the new indoor stadium that blocked out the Arizona sun.

One person who didn’t appreciate the celebration was Arizona safety Adrian Wilson, who started jawing with Burleson and eventually drew a penalty when he shoved the Seahawks receiver.

“You get to talking, that’s just football,” Burleson said. “At the end of the day, I respect (Wilson), and I think he respects me, and we’ll play another day.”

One man to beat: Burleson got pushed out of bounds by kicker Neil Rackers on two of his returns Sunday, marking the third and fourth times that an opposing kicker has been credited with tackling him.

“It’s good and bad,” Burleson said. “… My job is to get to the kicker and beat them. Hopefully I can start beating them more times than they push me out.

“If you get to the kicker, you’re at the 40 or 50. I know that the offense would love to start at the 40 or 50 every time. Realistically, getting pushed out by the kicker is a good thing.”

Ouch! Wide receiver Darrell Jackson was among three Seahawks injured in the game.

Jackson said he jammed his toe, and he wasn’t sure whether the injury would prevent him from playing in Thursday’s game against San Francisco.

Defensive linemen Joe Tafoya (calf) and Craig Terrill (right leg) also were hobbled.

Locklear’s back: Right tackle Sean Locklear returned to the lineup Sunday after missing six weeks, but he didn’t have his best day.

Locklear was called for a holding penalty on his first play.

“I was glad to be back,” he said. “I wanted to play the way I was playing before, but obviously in the first half I was a little rusty. I definitely settled down.”

Run over again: With 115 rushing yards, Arizona’s Edgerrin James became the third opposing running back in four weeks to go over 100 yards on the Seahawks.

“Anytime you let the running game get going, it opens up the pass,” Seattle middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. “We put our corners in some tough situations.”

James has recorded his only two 100-yard games in back-to-back weeks.

Quick slants: After playing well the past five weeks, Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant struggled. He was in coverage on both of Matt Leinart’s touchdown passes. … Defensive end Chris Cooper joined teammate Chike Okeafor in making plays to hurt his former team. Cooper, who went to training camp with the Seahawks but was cut two games into the season, recovered a fumble Sunday. … A familiar problem resurfaced for the Seahawks, who converted their first two third-down opportunities but were 3-of-10 the rest of the way. … Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander, and fullback Mack Strong all fumbled away the football in Sunday’s game, when the Seahawks lost three turnovers. “When it’s me, Matt and Mack” making a mistake, Alexander said, “… it multiplies by more than you see on the field.” … . The Seahawks don’t have much time to dwell on Sunday’s loss. They’ll hold a short practice today, then practice Tuesday and Wednesday before playing host to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.