KIRKLAND – While the Seattle Seahawks still have three more days before their playoff opener, the high volume of traffic in the training room leaves reason for concern.
Based on Wednesday’s turnout, the Seahawks could be forced to start their ninth different combination of offensive linemen, and their lack of available receivers might force Seattle to run an option attack.
D.J. Hackett, Nate Burleson and Darrell Jackson are all on the injury report, although coach Mike Holmgren is optimistic that all three receivers might be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday.
The big question mark involves Jackson, who missed the final three games of the regular season because of turf toe.
“I’m holding out hope that he can play,” Holmgren said. “We’ll see; we’ll test that thing (today).”
Jackson did not practice Wednesday but said afterward that he hopes to be available for Saturday’s game.
“I’m going to try to play,” he said. “It’s going to be a game-time decision whether I can play or not. But every day is getting brighter and brighter.”
Hackett, meanwhile, has been Seattle’s most consistent receiver during the past month. But he suffered a hip flexor in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay, and now Hackett is listed as “questionable” for the Dallas game.
“I might have looked down there (at the injury report) in years past and not paid too much attention to it,” Holmgren said of seeing Hackett’s name on the weekly list. “Now I have to. He’s been a contributor this year.”
Burleson has seen only limited practice time because of a foot injury, but Holmgren expects him to be available.
The offensive line has also been hit by the injury bug, with guards Floyd Womack (groin) and Chris Gray (quadriceps) listed as “questionable” for the game. If neither can play Saturday, tackle Tom Ashworth would probably move inside to guard to give Seattle its ninth different combination of starters.
The Seahawks will definitely play without three of their top four cornerbacks. Kelly Herndon (broken ankle) and Jimmy Williams (torn knee ligaments) have been placed on injured reserve, and Holmgren said that Marcus Trufant “obviously won’t play” because of a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 16. There is no timetable for when, or if, Trufant will return this season.
Also on the injury report are linebacker Leroy Hill (groin, questionable) and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (foot, probable). Hill practiced Wednesday, but Bernard did not.
The Cowboys didn’t list a single player on their injury report, which came out Wednesday.
Handling the elements: The Cowboys typically practice indoors, but coach Bill Parcells had them out in the elements on Wednesday.
“The forecast for Seattle is 44 degrees and showers,” he told reporters after practice. “(On Wednesday), when we went outside, it was 44 degrees (in Dallas), and we practiced with a wet ball quite a bit.”
Parcells said that he’s likely to practice inside today while pumping in crowd noise, so that he can prepare his team for the fans at Qwest Field.
Not a big fan: Holmgren has teased his players about wearing lime green gloves, and during his Wednesday press conference he told the media why.
“I hate them,” he said. “I just hate them.”
The gloves haven’t been very lucky recently for the three Seahawks who wear them on game days.
Deion Branch dropped four passes in them two weeks ago, while Herndon and Williams suffered season-ending injuries in the regular-season finale.
Turns out Holmgren might be on to something.
Stuck in a corner: Holmgren was pretty frank when asked about his injured secondary Wednesday.
A reporter inquired about how much new cornerbacks Rich Gardner and Pete Hunter would play on Saturday.
“Probably too much,” Holmgren quipped.
Gardner was added to the roster last week, while Hunter signed a contract on Tuesday morning. They are battling for playing time as the Seahawks’ No. 3 cornerback after the injuries to Trufant, Herndon and Williams.
Quick slants: Holmgren has maintained that Chris Spencer will continue to start at center, even though veteran Robbie Tobeck is back from a hip infection. … The Cowboys have a 32-22 all-time postseason record, but they’re 9-12 on the road. The Seahawks are 4-2 in home playoff games.
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