KIRKLAND – For the first time in a week, the Seattle Seahawks had their three starting linebackers on the field for a practice.
Now for the bad news.
When the Seahawks departed for Baltimore shortly after Friday’s practice, they left their top reserve, D.D. Lewis, behind.
Lewis has developed irritation in his sciatic nerve, causing sensations between his back and leg. The condition would have made for an uncomfortable plane ride, and Lewis probably wouldn’t have been able to play Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
Lewis started for Anthony Simmons last Sunday and led the team with 11 tackles but did not practice all week.
“We took (medical) pictures, and his back is OK, apparently, and all that stuff. But he just can’t function,” coach Mike Holmgren said shortly before boarding the team bus for the airport. ” … He’s going to stay here and get treatment so we have him for the rest of the year.”
Simmons is expected to return from a one-game benching, while Isaiah Kacyvenski will replace Lewis in nickel situations.
Chad Brown (foot) and Randall Godfrey (bruised sternum), who had not practiced this week due to injuries, joined Simmons with the first team at Friday’s practice.
Three other Seahawks sat out the practice but are expected to play in the game. Running back Maurice Morris (toe), defensive end Chike Okeafor (ankle) and free safety Ken Hamlin (knee) are recovering from minor injuries, while left tackle Walter Jones was out of town due to attend to a personal matter. Jones was scheduled to meet up with the team Friday night or this morning in Baltimore.
While Hamlin is expected to play, Damien Robinson will probably replace him in the starting lineup.
Watching Brightful: One of the players the Seahawks will have to keep an eye on this week is Baltimore return man Lamont Brightful.
The Mariner High School and Eastern Washington University product has big-play ability in the return game, as he showed last week during a 73-yard kickoff return.
He has also had a 58-yard kickoff return and a 44-yard punt return this season.
“And I’ve had a couple other long ones called back because of penalties,” said Brightful, who is still looking for his first touchdown of the season. “So I’ve had some pretty good runbacks this year.”
Brightful has really come on recently, especially as a kickoff return man. He is also seeing time playing cornerback in nickel situations and made his first NFL tackle against Denver four weeks ago.
Brightful said he is looking forward to playing the Seahawks because of his ties to the area.
“A lot of my friends from out there don’t get to see the games because the Ravens aren’t shown on TV,” said Brightful, a 1997 graduate of Mariner. “Hopefully they’ll get a chance to watch me this week.”
Rivalry week: As college football teams prepared for today’s plethora of rivalry games, NFL players have been placing a few bets of their own.
One potential bet was proposed by Ohio State alumnus Shawn Springs, who tried to make a wager with current teammate and University of Michigan product Steve Hutchinson that involved the loser wearing the winner’s colors for a week.
Hutchinson declined.
“I’d rather walk naked down the street than wear anything Ohio State,” Hutchinson said.
Even Holmgren has gotten swept up in rivalry week. He has always paid close attention to the games involving UCLA and USC (his alma mater) as well as Cal and Stanford (he grew up in the Bay Area). Lately he’s grown to appreciate the Apple Cup as well.
“It’s fun to be living up here and to experience that game,” Holmgren said. “It’s a heck of a game. (But) I don’t have a prediction.”
Predictably, Washington State alumni Marcus Trufant and Robbie Tobeck picked their beloved Cougs to win today’s game over Washington.
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