RENTON — Another day without Matt Hasselbeck on Thursday means the Seattle Seahawks’ chances of having their starting quarterback on the field for Sunday’s game got even slimmer.
Hasselbeck did not participate in Thursday’s practice session and has not practiced since the beginning of this month. He continues to rehabilitate a back injury, and the team is holding out hope that he’ll play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Seneca Wallace continued to run the first-team offense on Thursday and will start against the 49ers if Hasselbeck can’t play.
Head coach Mike Holmgren said earlier this week that Hasselbeck would have to practice if he was going to play, so the team’s session at 11:45 a.m. today could provide the final say as to whether the quarterback will be available in San Francisco.
During his Wednesday press conference, Holmgren said that the team’s 1-5 start would have no bearing on when Hasselbeck returns to action. The Seahawks won’t rush their quarterback into action in an effort to save the season, nor will they be more cautious because their postseason goals are looking more dire with each passing week.
“It’s not like all of a sudden: ‘Oh, we’ll wait until next year,’ and all that kind of stuff,” Holmgren said on Wednesday. “He wants to play. And as soon as he can play, he’ll play.”
Also missing from Thursday’s practice were wide receiver Deion Branch and starting right guard Floyd Womack.
Branch has missed the past two games because of a bruised heel, and the Seahawks are holding out hope that he will be available for Sunday’s game.
Womack was not on the practice field Thursday after being unable to finish the previous day’s session due to an undisclosed illness. Ray Willis, who has started three games at right tackle this season, worked in place of Womack at right guard Thursday.
“I’m trying to get used to the technique again, and I know it’ll take more than a day,” said Willis, who practiced at the guard position in 2007 but has spent most of this season as a tackle. “But I’ll just go out there and try to give it all I’ve got.”
Willis added that he would be ready to start if Womack is unavailable on Sunday. If Womack can play, Willis would likely see some snaps in place of Sean Locklear at right tackle.
Womack has been the starter since Week 2. He took over when Rob Sims suffered a season-ending biceps injury in the opener.
Notes: The 1-5 Seahawks have the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals to provide hope. According to research done by the Elias Sports Bureau, that team is the only one to rally from a 1-5 record or worse and still make the postseason. The 1970 Bengals overcame a 1-6 start by winning their final seven regular-season games en route to an AFC Central title. … Wide receiver Koren Robinson returned to practice Thursday. The Seahawks have been giving him Wednesdays off because of a sore knee.
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