KIRKLAND – Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is calling an audible.
Because he believes Matt Hasselbeck is overwrought with decisions at the line of scrimmage, Holmgren said Wednesday that he’ll cut down on the quarterback’s freedom to call audibles.
“We ask a lot of Matt, too much of Matt,” Holmgren said during his Wednesday press conference. “We really do, as far as audibles and all that stuff. I’ve got to tone that down a little bit because it’s not fair. It’s not fair to the young man.
“We get so clever sometimes that we don’t even let the guys play. So we’re going to change that a little bit.”
Hasselbeck audibled several times in Sunday night’s win over Denver, and the resulting plays were largely unsuccessful. But Holmgren said that was more a product of oversaturation than anything Hasselbeck was doing.
“He’s human,” Holmgren said, adding that the audibles contributed to at least two of the three delay-of-game penalties in the first half of Sunday’s game. “All of a sudden we’re going to run a play when the linebacker’s here. He moves three inches here, and then we want (Hasselbeck) to run another play. No one can do that. Nobody can do that.”
Hasselbeck shrugged off the change in duties.
“Trust me, there’s plenty left on the plate,” he said. “So it’s fine.”
Engram gets medical clearance: While Holmgren said that he is still probably a week away from playing, wide receiver Bobby Engram has been taken off his medication for a thyroid condition and is available to participate in games.
Engram has been practicing for more than a month, but he hasn’t played in a game since Oct. 1. He was diagnosed with the condition sometime around the Oct. 8 bye week after complaining of fatigue and an accelerated heart rate.
“Now he has to tell me how he feels,” Holmgren said of when Engram might be active for a game. “He has to, in his own mind, feel like he can contribute and really go like he’s used to going.
“So there is light at the end of tunnel on that one.”
Engram has not spoken to the media since being sidelined, other than to say he’ll comment after he starts playing again.
Locklear to start: Right tackle Sean Locklear was back working with the first team at Wednesday’s practice, and Holmgren said he would start Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
“Six weeks is a long time,” Locklear said of his layoff. “I’ve never missed a game, ever, and so to miss six in a row, that (stinks). But it happens. You have to be able to bounce back and be ready to go.”
Tom Ashworth started while Locklear was out with a high ankle sprain.
“He’s been playing well, which I knew he would,” Locklear said of Ashworth. “Now I guess you could say I have to play up to his standards.”
Injury update: Center Robbie Tobeck (hip, doubtful for Sunday’s game), fullback Mack Strong (ankle, questionable) and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (foot, probable) were the only starters to miss Wednesday’s practice due to injury.
Holmgren said that the team might activate rookie fullback David Kirtman later this week unless Strong, the only fullback currently on the active roster, shows improvement.
Kirtman, a Mercer Island native, is currently on the practice squad.
Tobeck has lost 15 pounds after battling an abscess in his hip, according to Holmgren.
Linebacker Julian Peterson was excused from Wednesday’s practice for undisclosed reasons.
Still simmering: During his Wednesday conference call with the Seattle media, Arizona coach Dennis Green said he didn’t regret his infamous, post-game tirade after the Oct. 16 loss to Chicago.
“I just know that I felt a lot better after I blew my top,” he said. “I think there are some times when your emotions, it’s not in your best interest to keep them in. That was a game that was absolutely ridiculous.”
Quick slants: The Seahawks signed running back Marquis Weeks to the active roster and also added defensive tackle Marcus Green from the New York Giants’ practice squad. … Quarterback Gibran Hamdan, who was released on Tuesday, was added to the practice squad. … Kicker Josh Brown and punter Ryan Plackemeier were among the four players who finished behind Chicago’s Devin Hester for the special-teams-player-of-the-week award. … Three members of USC’s 2004 national championship team are on the Seahawks and Cardinals rosters: Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart and offensive lineman Deuce Lutui as well as Seattle middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu. Kirtman could join that group if he’s added to the active roster.
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