RENTON — The injury bug that has been pestering the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line for much of this season finally obliterated it on Monday.
Tackle Sean Locklear, who was the only projected starter yet to land on injured reserve this season, is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the New York Jets because of a dislocated toe.
“He was kind of the last man standing on the offensive line,” coach Mike Holmgren said.
“But it’s been that kind of year. I’m a little numb to (the never-ending injuries), at this point, honestly.”
Holmgren has not ruled Locklear out for Sunday’s game, but he didn’t sound very optimistic after the veteran dislocated his toe on the final snap of Sunday’s 23-2 0 win over St. Louis.
“It will be a challenge for him to get ready to play,” Holmgren said. “It’s very swollen. He had some bleeding, as you might expect.
“We will treat him, probably, to Saturday and then make a decision. I don’t think he’s going to do very much (in practice) this week.”
With four projected starters already out for the season, the Seahawks are running out of options in terms of replacements. The “easiest” solution, Holmgren said, would be to give 24-year-old tackle Kyle Williams his first NFL action. Williams has spent most of his two seasons in Seattle on the team’s practice squad, but he and starting right tackle Ray Willis are the only natural tackles left on the roster.
Another option could be moving veteran guard Floyd Womack outside, where he has started 18 games during his eight-year career. But that would mean having to put veteran guard Steve McKinney in the lineup, and he’s still trying to get into playing shape after joining the team two weeks ago.
“How we line up Wednesday (at practice) will probably be how we line up for the game,” Holmgren said.
Hasselbeck to sit again: Holmgren said that Matt Hasselbeck will serve as the No. 3 quarterback again this week.
He added that the decision has nothing to do with Locklear’s injury, or the season-ending injury that landed Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones on injured reserve.
“He’s our No. 1 quarterback,” Holmgren said of Hasselbeck. “If he was healthy to play, we’d play him.”
Hasselbeck has missed seven games this season because of a bad back. Seneca Wallace has started two games in a row, and it’s likely that Wallace will be the No. 1 quarterback again on Sunday.
As for Hasselbeck?
“He feels better,” Holmgren said. “Right now, he’s still probably going to be the third quarterback in the game. He has not been cleared any further than that, but he is improving.”
Holmgren’s last lap: Holmgren said he’s already started thinking about his final home game this Sunday at Qwest Field.
While he said last week that he is “99 percent” certain he will return to the league in some capacity after the 2009 season, Sunday will likely mark the final time he walks the Qwest Field sidelines as the Seahawks’ head coach.
He said he plans to commemorate the event by taking a final lap around the stadium after Sunday’s game against the Jets.
“For the folks that want to stick around just a little bit longer — they might leave if they have dinner reservations — I was just going to take one more walk around the field and kind of thank the people,” Holmgren said Monday. “That’s kind of my plan. It doesn’t sound very exotic, but that’s what I’d like to do.”
Adding to the drama of Sunday’s game is the fact that longtime Holmgren protege Brett Favre will be playing quarterback for the Jets.
“After the game, I’m going to hop on their plane and tell him I’m coming back,” Holmgren quipped, referring to Favre getting on the Seahawks’ team plane after a 2005 game in Green Bay and telling Holmgren he was probably going to retire.
Quarterback signed: Jones was officially placed on IR Monday, clearing a spot on the team’s active roster.
Seattle was quick to fill the spot after signing second-year quarterback Jeff Rowe from the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad.
“Instead of waiting and then signing the fourth arm for training camp, they looked over the practice squads, our scouts liked him, and we signed him,” Holmgren said.
Holmgren added that Jones should return next season, despite season-ending surgery on his left knee.
“His surgery, he’s going to be fine,” he said Monday. “He’s still going to be one of the best.”
Quick slants: Holmgren said that defensive back Jordan Babineaux is expected to recover from the concussion he suffered in Sunday’s win over St. Louis. “I talked to him on the airplane, and he was in pretty good shape on the airplane,” Holmgren said Monday. “But I thought it was a little unusual that he was singing Christmas carols at the towel bin in the locker room (earlier Sunday).” … Linebacker Leroy Hill (stinger) could miss another game, his third in a row.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
