KIRKLAND – Darrell Jackson has already proven once that perfection does not always need practice. This weekend, the Seattle Seahawks are hoping he can do it again.
When the Seahawks returned to practice Wednesday, the first time they were on the field together since Sunday’s win over Minnesota, Jackson was nowhere to be found. He remained in Florida helping make arrangements for his father’s funeral services, which will take place Friday and Saturday.
Jackson also missed practices all of last week, then went on to catch 10 passes for 135 yards en route to the NFC offensive player of the week honor that was announced Wednesday.
The difference is that last week, Jackson had a cold that kept him off the practice field but allowed him to attend three days of meetings. This week, Jackson will re-join the team on Saturday without having any game preparation under his belt.
“Physically at this stage of the season, you could make a case for the veteran player having the week off. Maybe he’s a little fresher on Sunday, for that matter,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “I’ve always felt that you need a little practice, though.”
Jackson’s performance last Sunday proved that he doesn’t necessarily need the mid-week work. He tied his career high for receptions while putting up a season-high total in yardage.
Over the past two weeks, Jackson has caught 19 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns.
Jackson has put up pretty solid numbers all year, despite a six-week span in which he dropped nine balls. He has 74 receptions, eight shy of the 10-year-old team record, and has already gone over the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his five-year NFL career.
“Funny how that goes,” Holmgren said. “I believe four weeks ago you (in the media) wanted me to bench him.
“… He’s a good football player. You stay with your football players. You stay with them and try to coach them up. Sometimes there are no answers.”
Jackson’s father, Joe, passed away from cancer last weekend. Just hours after hearing the news, the 26-year-old receiver took the field and had one of the best games of his career.
“It wasn’t a tough decision” to play, Jackson said afterward. “I wanted to cowboy up, suck it up, and try to get it done.
“As far as coming out and playing, you just have to hold your emotions down on and off the field. It’s easier on the field than off the field. When I get off the field, that’s when I start thinking about it.”
Jackson is expected to start again Sunday, even though he won’t join the team until sometime Saturday afternoon. He and Jerry Rice will start together for the fifth game in a row, while Koren Robinson is expected to re-join the team next week following a four-game suspension.
Jackson has taken full advantage of the extra attention, catching 23 passes in the first three games of Robinson’s suspension.
He had his biggest game despite being stricken with grief last Sunday.
“We were really happy that he had a great game last weekend,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said Wednesday. “If anything, I think that him having a great game, maybe that’s the one thing that can bring a smile to his face and to his family’s face. Hopefully for his mom (Zadie), that was of some comfort.”
Darrell Jackson, one of eight children, has been providing a different kind of comfort to his family this week.
Then come Sunday, his second family will be counting on him to come through again.
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