If Trufant’s out, rookie Jennings likely will make first start

  • By Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Monday, December 25, 2006 9:00pm
  • Sports

When the Seattle Seahawks used a first-round draft choice on Kelly Jennings last April, the University of Miami cornerback was promised he’d get a chance to compete for a starting spot right away.

But veteran Kelly Herndon was so impressive at training camp that the rookie hotshot never had a chance.

This week, Jennings’ chance might finally have arrived.

While there is still no prognosis on the ankle injury to starting cornerback Marcus Trufant, chances are that Jennings will make his first NFL start Sunday at Tampa Bay. If Trufant has a high ankle sprain, as was Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren’s first best guess, Jennings could be a starter throughout the postseason.

“He’s not a rookie anymore,” said Herndon, who has started all 15 games this season along with Trufant. “We’re in Week 16, and he’s been playing well. He’s going to be a great player.”

While Jennings has seen plenty of playing time as a nickel corner this season, he’s yet to start a game. In a way, he feels fortunate that he got to wait this long.

“I’m a whole lot better than I was early in the season,” Jennings said. “If I’d have been stuck in that situation in Week 4 or 5, I don’t know if I’d have been able to perform as well as I did (during the second half of Sunday’s game against San Diego). Now I’m learning the defense, and I can make plays.”

Jennings was already seeing extended playing time in Sunday’s game – he and Herndon split snaps with the No. 1 defense because the team was giving the rookie an extended look – but he got thrown into the forefront when teammate Lofa Tatupu rolled into Trufant’s ankle on the opening drive of the third quarter.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers was not shy about testing the rookie, throwing his way seven times in 20 second-half attempts. Jennings held his own, knocking away two passes while allowing just three receptions for 51 yards in the second half.

“I knew they would” challenge him, Jennings said. “I just had to step up to the challenge.”

In his first big test of his NFL career, Jennings did just that.

“He loves that challenge,” Herndon said. “He has that confidence, and he showed it. They were coming at him a little bit, but he showed them: ‘Don’t come over here with that.’ As a rookie, you’ve got to be able to do that.”

Jennings has had a quiet rookie year, which is a good thing for someone who plays his position. He’s gotten beat on a touchdown or two, but he’s also had entire games when he’s gone unnoticed.

He could be the center of attention come playoff time, as the rookie from Miami is starting for a struggling team that has found its way into the playoffs.

His time has finally come – better late than never.

“Later on in the season, I felt like I was ready to start,” said Jennings, whom teammates call Slim because of his physique. “But Kell (Herndon) and Tru have been doing a great job, so I knew I wasn’t going to get the job. I figured I might as well keep playing hard so that if it came, I’d be ready for it.”

As far as the Seahawks are concerned, he’d better be.

Time off: The Seahawks took the holiday off Monday, and players will have today off. They return to practice Wednesday and will close out the 2006 regular season on Sunday in Tampa Bay.

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