Mora extra cautious with back injuries

RENTON — Jim Mora is understandably weary when it comes to backs.

When a back injury sidelines a team’s Pro Bowl quarterback for nine games the previous season, it makes sense that said team would be extra cautious with back problems.

And six days into training camp, two of the Seahawks’ marquee players, left tackle Walter Jones and cornerback Marcus Trufant, are currently sidelined with back injuries, though Mora says neither are serious.

“What I think is important is that we don’t put Marcus back out on the field, that we don’t put Walt back out on the field until they’re really ready to go, because we don’t want them to have a setback,” the new Seahawks head coach said. “That just wouldn’t serve any purpose right now.”

As Mora points out, both Trufant and Jones are seasoned veterans who might be better equipped to miss part of training camp. Still, the fact remains that Jones, who is experiencing back spasms, has missed all but one day of training camp and Trufant hasn’t practiced yet and is on the physically unable to perform list.

Asked about Jones, Mora said Wednesday that “Walt is making progress, he’s been out here for the start of the practices, he’s moving around better and we hope to see him out here soon. But we’re going to take it one day at a time and make sure that he’s ready to go before we put him back out on the field.”

As for Trufant, who hurt his back in a workout prior to the start of camp last week, Mora said he’s not yet worried about the veteran cornerback.

“Tru’s making progress as well,” Mora said. “No time table yet on that, it’s day-to-day. As I’ve said before, we’re going to be probably as cautious as anybody when it comes to backs, and Marcus is an established player. You want them all to practice every day, but Marcus is a conscientious guy who knows the scheme, knows how to play football, so I’m not as concerned with him missing time than maybe I’d be with a young guy.”

Chillin’ out

Wednesday morning’s practice, which was a week to the day after record-breaking heat swept the region, was by far the coolest of camp so far. While Mora would prefer hot days to get his team ready for the season, he didn’t mind a break in the weather — though he did complain about freezing by the end of his morning press conference.

“Well, it was a little chilly, but it was actually probably a good time to have a day like this,” he said. “Each practice, guys are tired, a little worn down, so this spiced things up a little bit. We don’t want too many days like this, but it was Ok for today, especially coming off of a long, hot one yesterday — our longest practice of the camp so far. So I think this freshened them up a little bit.”

Mora not worrying about Curry

First-round pick Aaron Curry remains unsigned, and not surprisingly, Mora continues to be asked about the linebacker.

Mora obviously wants the team’s top pick in camp, but said he’s not giving the topic much thought while Curry isn’t on the field.

“My philosophy has always been to let the people that are responsible for the negotiations do the job that they’re responsible for doing — and I think our people do an excellent job — and just focus on the guys that are here,” he said. “You may not believe it, but I don’t really think about him every day. I don’t go up to my office and go, ‘Oh, when’s Aaron going to get here?’ I don’t worry about it. When he gets here he gets here and we’ll go to work at whatever time that is.”

Bumps and bruises

In addition to Jones and Trufant, the Seahawks were also without receiver Billy McMullen (knee). Guard/tackle Ray Willis (knee) did not practice in the morning but participated in the evening practice. WR Deion Branch sat out the evening practice because of a sore knee.

The Seahawks waived injured reserve linebacker Tony Taylor and signed former Western Washington linebacker Shane Simmons.

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.

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