Seahawks hope Hasselbeck returns this Sunday

Published 12:01 am Thursday, October 7, 2010

RENTON — Dejected by a lopsided loss on Sunday, disheartened by a third consecutive defeat, but no less determined to see his team do something special this season, Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora stated the obvious on Monday — and then outlined the possible.

“We’re not where we want to be,” Mora told the media, hours after returning from Indianapolis where the Seahawks were whacked by the Colts, 34-17. “We didn’t expect to be here. But it is what it is, and now we have to find a way to look forward and get better from this point on.

“We’re certainly not satisfied by any means. We’re very disappointed with where we are at the quarter-point of the season. But we also realize we have a lot of football left to play. We’re a good football team, so we have to remain focused, remain positive, keep working hard, keeping believing in ourselves and things will get better.”

And things could get better this week, Mora added, if injured quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returns as hoped.

Hasselbeck has missed the past two games after suffering a fractured rib in a Sept. 20 game at San Francisco, the first of Seattle’s three straight losses. He will continue getting treatment until Wednesday, when he will likely practice with the team.

“No promise that he’ll play on Sunday,” Mora said, referring to Seattle’s game against Jacksonville at Qwest Field. “We have to see where he is (in terms of) moving around. … But I think it’s healed to the point where he can attempt to play through the pain.”

A big issue for Hasselbeck, Mora explained, is breathing deeply when he is winded. Hasselbeck made the trip to Indianapolis and did some running on the field before the game, “and he was having to take deep breaths, which has been something that’s really been bothering him.”

“So we’ll see where he is Wednesday. Hopefully he can go out there and do some things. If he can, I think that’ll give him a little bit more confidence. And then he can do a little more Thursday, a little more Friday and hopefully be ready to go on Sunday.”

Another question is how well Hasselbeck will be able to throw the ball down the field. Asked about this, Mora shrugged.

“I don’t know yet,” he said. “We’ll see Wednesday. I haven’t seen him drop back and really wing it, so that’s a good question.”

Injuries were a big topic on Monday, just as they have been throughout this season. The 1-3 Seahawks have missed Hasselbeck, their three-time Pro Bowl quarterback for two games and part of a third, and they have yet to see offensive tackle Walter Jones, a nine-time Pro Bowler, in four games.

There is no indication that Jones, who has a knee injury, will be ready this week, Mora said. Complicating matters, backup Sean Locklear is likely out for another two weeks with an ankle injury, and guard Rob Sims is expected to miss at least one and maybe two games with a high ankle sprain suffered vs. Indianapolis.

Injuries to three offensive linemen “mandates us making a move,” Mora said, though he stopped short of saying what that move will be.

Lastly, defensive end Patrick Kearney has a strained groin muscle and is doubtful to play against Jacksonville on Sunday.

On the subject of good news — and Mora sure looked Monday like he could use some — linebacker Lofa Tatupu returned on Sunday after missing one game with a hamstring injury and came out unscathed. Also, cornerback Josh Wilson is expected back this week after recovering from a sprained ankle.

Of course, other key players remain sidelined — among them, cornerback Marcus Trufant and linebacker Leroy Hill — so the Seahawks are still a long way from full strength.

“It’s killing Matt not to play,” Mora said. “Just like it’s killing Walter not to play and it’s killing Tru (Trufant) not to play and it’s killing Leroy and Sean. These are not guys that like to stand on the sidelines when their teammates are out there busting their tails and not having success.”

With two home games on Seattle’s schedule — Jacksonville on Sunday and Arizona on Oct. 11 — leading into the team’s Oct. 25 bye, the goal, Mora said, is to “get to the bye 3-3, get some guys back, regroup, and then hit it hard for the last 10 (games).”