Hawks welcome back Brown

KIRKLAND – If ever there was a time that the Seattle Seahawks needed a boost, it would be this week.

So expect veteran linebacker Chad Brown to be welcomed with open arms on Sunday.

“I’d like him to play the whole game,” coach Mike Holmgren said hopefully, knowing full well that Brown will be eased back into the regular rotation. “Maybe he could play some offense too.”

No, Brown won’t be helping out on offense. But he arrives at a good time for a defense that has been ravaged by injuries in the past nine days.

Brown is coming back from a broken fibula in his left leg. He suffered the injury on Aug. 23 and began practicing for the first time last week. While nothing is certain, the team is targeting Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers as his 2004 regular season debut.

“I expect him to be fired up, to be real enthusiastic and bring a new life to the defense,” strong safety Terreal Bierria said. “I expect him to be real energetic.”

Brown wasn’t talking about his return Monday, saying he’d rather wait to speak until he actually plays in a game. But his teammates are excited to have him back.

“That charisma and that character he brings to the team is going to be tremendous,” Bierria said. “Sunday we had a lot of young guys playing, and it’s going to be real good to get him back.”

The Seahawks have lost defensive end Grant Wistrom and outside linebackers Anthony Simmons and Isaiah Kacyvenski to injuries over the past two games. Kacyvenski was scheduled to undergo an MRI on what is believed to be a high ankle sprain and is doubtful for this weekend.

Wistrom and Simmons will both miss Sunday’s game against Carolina, although Simmons could return as soon as the following week.

“The timing of it is good,” Holmgren said of Brown’s return. “We’re a little hurt at linebacker right now. And with Grant being hurt, it gives us a little pass rush.”

White shines: Tracy White is expected to start at outside linebacker for the second week in a row.

White made his first start Sunday in place of Simmons and had a team-high 13 tackles.

“If everybody played like Tracy White, we would have won the game,” Holmgren said. “He did a really fine job. I was proud of him.”

Simmons is expected to miss at least one more game and as many as three.

Dialing it up: Holmgren said Monday that he doesn’t mind criticism from the fans regarding his play-calling. Some people believe he should run more; others beg for him to open it up.

Either way, he’s sure to have detractors – especially after a loss.

“There are a lot of people that, if you go run-run-pass, you’re conservative,” Holmgren said. “If you go pass-run-pass, you’re wild. If you go pass-pass-pass, you’re a complete idiot.

“So you can never make everyone happy. I’m just going to do what I think I have to do to move the football.”

Robinson waits: With rumors continuing to surround the status of wide receiver Koren Robinson, the Seahawks are preparing once again for him to play.

Two national television stations have reported that Robinson is awaiting word on an appeal regarding a third failed test under the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Neither Robinson nor the team are allowed to comment on the report, but Holmgren said the Seahawks are not letting the rumors affect them.

“We’ll deal with whatever we deal with, and so will he, down the road,” Holmgren said.

Quick slants: Holmgren is hopeful that punter Tom Rouen (hamstring), right tackle Chris Terry (shoulder) and wide receiver Bobby Engram (ankle) will return to practice this week. … The Seahawks’ Darrell Jackson now has 34 receptions, tying him with Philadelphia’s Terrell Owens for eighth in the NFC. … Cornerback Ken Lucas is tied with Kansas City’s Eric Warfield with an NFL-high four interceptions. … Heading into Monday night’s game, the Seahawks ranked 13th in the NFC in offense and eighth in defense. … Punter Donnie Jones was released again and should be added to the practice squad today. Offensive lineman Jerry Wunsch was re-signed to fill his roster spot.