RENTON — One of the worst seasons in the history of the Seattle Seahawks will have to go on without one of the franchise’s best-ever players.
Left tackle Walter Jones, a 34-year-old who has been to a team-record eight Pro Bowls, underwent microfracture knee surgery Thursday and will be out for the rest of the season, head coach Mike Holmgren said.
While Holmgren does not expect the surgery to affect Jones’ career, it should keep the veteran offensive lineman out until July.
“It will be training camp (before Jones can practice), but he will be fine,” Holmgren told reporters Friday afternoon.
Jones has played much of this season on an injured knee, and several coaches and teammates blamed the injury for a Thanksgiving Day performance that saw Jones give up two sacks against the Dallas Cowboys. That was the last game Jones played. He sat out last Sunday’s contest against New England.
Without Jones, the Seahawks had to shake up their offensive line by moving two players — right tackle Sean Locklear to the left side, and guard Ray Willis to left tackle — while giving guard Mansfield Wrotto his first NFL start.
“As a group, I thought they played a very fine football game,” Holmgren of the Jones-less line. “I think there are a couple of guys that in my opinion had their best games.”
Holmgren praised veteran guard Floyd Womack, who has been filling in for injured starter Mike Wahle, and center Steve Vallos for their play in the Patriots game.
Holmgren also said earlier this week that onlookers would be “making a huge mistake” by assuming that Jones is near the end of his career. Offensive coordinator Gil Haskell added that “Walter’s had a hell of a year.”
Jones said earlier this week that he still has plenty of gas left in his tank.
On Friday, Holmgren said that the surgery was not as extensive as some microfracture procedures.
“It isn’t what you and I would normally think,” he told reporters. “He’s going to be fine, I think.”
Jones has played 12 NFL seasons, and his 180 career starts rank second in franchise history behind Steve Largent’s 197.
Until this season, Jones had not missed a game because of injury. His only non-starts came during a two-game holdout in 2002 and in season finales in 2005 and 2007, both of which came after the Seahawks had clinched division titles.
Jones has had multiple shoulder surgeries, including one that kept him from participating in a Pro Bowl. He has been invited to the past seven Pro Bowls, appearing in six.
Hasselbeck, Hill unlikely to play: Jones isn’t the only starter in danger of missing Sunday’s game against St. Louis.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and linebacker Leroy Hill sat out Friday’s practice because of injuries and might not be available for the Sunday game.
Holmgren said Friday that Hasselbeck will travel and serve as the emergency quarterback, while Hill is unlikely to suit up for the game.
Hasselbeck has missed six games this season because of a back injury that has bothered him since training camp. Seattle is 1-5 when Hasselbeck has not played this season.
Seneca Wallace is likely to start for the sixth time this year and the second week in a row.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Wallace said earlier this week when asked about the possibility of playing against the Rams. “It’s about how you go about it, and take advantage of the opportunity to go out there and play.”
Hill sat out last Sunday’s game against New England because of a pinched nerve in his neck he suffered in the Thanksgiving loss to Dallas. Both players are listed as questionable on the injury report.
Sophomore starters: For better or worse, the Seahawks’ draft class of 2007 has certainly made its presence known this season.
Six of the eight players from last year’s draft class have started a game this season, including four who made their starting debuts.
Cornerback Josh Wilson (second-round pick) took over as a full-time starter in Week 8, and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (third round) has started all 13 games. Wrotto, one of two fourth-round picks, and Vallos, a seventh-round pick, have been forced into starting duty on Seattle’s offensive line.
Wide receivers Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent, both sixth-round picks, were in the starting lineup earlier this season but lost their jobs and eventually spent time on the practice squad.
The only two players from the ‘07 class not to start a game are linebacker and fifth-round pick Will Herring, who has been a valuable special-teams contributor, and defensive end Baraka Atkins, a fourth-round pick who had the first two sacks of his NFL career last Sunday.
By contrast, the 2006 draft class includes two players (Kelly Jennings and Darryl Tapp) who have been benched, two who are on injured reserve (Rob Sims and Ben Obomanu) and two others who already have been cut (David Kirtman and Ryan Plackemeier).
A Tru fan: Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant got some kind words from an unexpected source earlier this week.
St. Louis receiver Torry Holt, who has battled Trufant on many a Sunday over the past five-plus seasons, said he is a big fan of the 27-year-old cornerback.
“Tremendous amount of respect for him,” Holt said. “I hung out with him at the Pro Bowl, (and) my respect for him is great.
“I have been saying this for years, when he was coming out of college and his time in the league, that he has some of the best feet by any corner in the NFL. It’s a challenge. He definitely presents a challenge for anyone, and you have to be on top of your game going against him.”
Quick slants: The Seahawks have beaten St. Louis in seven consecutive meetings. … A Seattle loss Sunday would mark the Seahawks’ seventh in a row this season, the third-longest losing streak in franchise history.
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