KIRKLAND – A sore knee kept wide receiver Darrell Jackson out of practice Friday morning, but the Seattle Seahawks do not believe it will cause a pain in the neck for their offense.
Coach Mike Holmgren said that he expects Jackson to play against the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
“I don’t think it’s serious,” Holmgren said. “Just to be on the safe side, so his mind’s right, we sent him (to the doctor Friday) morning. I’m pretty sure he’s going to play.”
Jackson felt soreness in the knee on Friday morning and was excused from practice so he could take further tests. He was expected to join the team in Washington, D.C., on Friday night or sometime today.
The absence of Jackson at Friday’s practice left the Seahawks with just three healthy receivers on the active roster: Bobby Engram, Joe Jurevicius and D.J. Hackett. Veteran Peter Warrick has been sidelined by a groin injury all week and is listed as questionable for the Redskins game.
Jackson currently ranks third in the NFL in 22 receptions and has led Seattle in receiving in each of its first three games.
He has not missed a game since November 2002, when a concussion kept him out of action for three weeks. Jackson has played in 43 consecutive games, including postseason.
Father time: Just how long has Redskins offensive lineman Ray Brown been playing in the NFL? He actually spent his first three professional seasons playing alongside Stump Mitchell, now a 46-year-old Seahawks assistant coach.
“He was a baby when I played,” said Mitchell, whose playing career ended in 1989.
Actually, Brown is just three years younger than Mitchell. But through some kind of fountain-of-youth miracle, the 43-year-old has stayed in the NFL for 20 seasons.
“It speaks volumes as to the guy he is in terms of persevering,” said Mitchell, who played with Brown while they were both with the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals in the late 1980s. “Coming (into the NFL) as a nice-looking, graceful tight end, and then being shifted to offensive guard – and even tackle – that speaks to his character and dedication.”
While Brown is a reserve for the Redskins after starting 14 games last season, his longevity has impressed several opponents through the years.
Add the Seahawks’ longest-tenured veteran, 34-year-old fullback Mack Strong, to that list.
Which leads to the obvious question. Does Strong think he also might be able to …?
“Uh, no,” he said, interrupting the question before it was completed. “Right off the bat, with no hesitation – absolutely not. I’m not playing until I’m 42 years old.
“I’m not playing 16, 17 years in the league. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Still weak: Seahawks tight end Itula Mili was expected to be among those who didn’t make the trip to Washington. Holmgren said Mili is still a week away from being able to contribute because the tight end continues to build strength following an intestine disorder that caused him to lose 15 pounds.
“That’s one of the things that I’m really struggling with right now,” Mili said Thursday. “That’s always been my strong point. Right now it’s not there. I just have to keep working at it.”
Starter Jerramy Stevens and Ryan Hannam will be the only two available tight ends for the fourth week in a row.
Herndon, Womack practice: Cornerback Kelly Herndon (neck stinger) and offensive lineman Floyd Womack (triceps) saw limited action at Friday’s practice.
Herndon had missed the previous two days and is probable for Sunday’s game.
For Womack, it marked the first practice of the regular season. He suffered a partially torn triceps during the preseason and could make his regular season debut next week at St. Louis.
Sean Locklear is likely to start at Womack’s right tackle position again Sunday.
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