RENTON — Desperate for a spark that can ignite a dormant offense, the Seattle Seahawks are hoping starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck can provide it.
But not this week.
Hasselbeck did not practice Friday afternoon, and coach Mike Holmgren said he is unlikely to play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
“His strength is getting better, to my understanding, but until that point (doctors) are not going to clear him,” Holmgren said.
Sunday will mark the third consecutive game that Hasselbeck has missed. He has been diagnosed with a bulging disk in his back, sapping some of the strength from his legs.
Seneca Wallace is likely to make his second start in a row, and he’s looking to atone for last Sunday’s 12-for-23, 73-yard performance.
“He had a good week at practice,” Holmgren said. “He threw the ball with more confidence, and he’s looking forward to playing.”
Hasselbeck could be back next week, but he’s pretty much on a week-to-week basis. Holmgren said that he’ll get tested Monday, at which time doctors will see how much strength he has regained in his legs.
“I’m into that mode where, when someone comes up to me and tells me he can finally play, I’ll be very excited,” Holmgren said of Hasselbeck’s eventual return.
Holmgren added that he does not believe the injury will threaten the rest of Hasselbeck’s season.
“I’m pretty confident he’ll be back,” Holmgren said. “But right now, for anybody, it’s a little bit of guesswork.
“They’re doing all the right stuff. He’s doing all the right stuff. The leg has to respond, the strength has to respond. That nerve has to kind of start going in the right direction.”
Holmgren added that wide receiver Deion Branch is also unlikely to play in Sunday’s game. Branch is nursing a bruised heel.
“Deion is in the same” situation as Hasselbeck, Holmgren said. “He tried it. We’re testing it each week. The swelling has gone down, but the bruise is still sore.
“I talked to them both (Thursday), and they both want to play. We’ll get them out there as soon as we can.”
According to the official injury report that came out later Friday afternoon, Hasselbeck has officially been ruled out of the game while Branch is listed as “questionable.”
No fine for Hill: Linebacker Leroy Hill did not get fined for his hit on Tampa Bay receiver Ike Hilliard last week, which came as a relief to the Seahawks defender.
“Obviously, it was on my mind,” he said of the possibility that the league would fine him. “But I thought it was a clean hit.”
An NFL spokesperson confirmed Friday afternoon that Hill would not be fined for the hit, which left Hilliard motionless for several minutes and delayed the game while an ambulance was brought onto the field. Hilliard eventually got up and walked off the field under his own power.
Hill’s hit, which appeared to create helmet-to-helmet contact, was so fierce that teammate Lofa Tatupu received a concussion on impact. Tatupu was trying to tackle Hilliard from the back side.
“That’s the best-case scenario,” said Hill, who still has not seen the hit on film. “(Hilliard) is good, Lofa’s good, and I didn’t get fined.”
Making a mark: When defensive tackle Red Bryant went four consecutive weeks without suiting up for a game, the impatient rookie was looking for an understanding ear.
He didn’t have to look far.
The father of Bryant’s fiancé is Jacob Green, a former Seahawks defensive end who doesn’t mind giving his future son-in-law advice.
“He told me: ‘You have to pay your dues. Nobody’s going to give you anything; you’ve got to continue to work,’” Bryant said. “He just told me to keep on working.”
Last Sunday, Bryant saw the most significant playing time of his career and impressed the coaching staff. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound rookie from Texas A&M had two tackles.
“Red Bryant did a good job in there,” Holmgren said.
Womack returns: Starting right guard Floyd Womack was back at practice Friday, and Holmgren said he expects him to start against the 49ers on Sunday.
Womack has missed practice time due to illness this week. Ray Willis filled in at guard while he was out.
Quick slants: The only other player, other than Hasselbeck, ruled out of the game is tight end Will Heller (knee). … According to the 49ers’ injury report, starting right tackle Jonas Jennings (shoulder) and University of Washington product Dashon Goldson (knee) will not play Sunday.
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