KIRKLAND – Lately, Seattle Seahawks training camp is starting to look like it used to. That is, the Seahawks are participating without the services of Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones.
Rather than being miffed about his contract situation, which was the modus operandi that kept him out of three consecutive camps earlier this decade, Jones is currently sidelined by a shoulder injury. Sunday marked the third consecutive day that he did not practice, but both Jones and coach Mike Holmgren downplayed the severity of the injury.
“If he’s sore and thinks the shoulder’s aggravated a little bit,” Holmgren said, “we’re just not going to play him; I won’t practice him.”
Jones underwent a procedure on his right shoulder in February but did not seem to be bothered by the injury in summer minicamps. He took part in each of the Seahawks’ first nine camp practices before shutting it down for Friday’s sessions, the Saturday intrasquad scrimmage and Sunday’s lone practice.
Jones admitted that he’s been fighting shoulder problems over the years, but he downplayed the significance of the missed practices.
“My shoulder has been what it is,” he said Sunday. “The team has done a good job of doing the right things to get me ready.
“I just have to do the right things that will get me ready for the game.”
Statistically, Jones had one of his worst seasons last year by giving up seven sacks, which is believed to be a career-high. He said his performance had less to do with his own injury problems than those of the other linemen. With several teammates missing time due to health problems, Jones said, he overburdened himself with the problems that stemmed from playing with inexperience teammates.
“There were some games last year where I tried to do too much,” he said. “I said I’m not going to do that again. If a young player gets thrown in there, I’m going to say: ‘You’ve got to figure it out on your own.’
“I think it should be a lot easier for everybody this year.”
Another thing that doesn’t seem to concern Jones is his sore shoulder.
“It’s precautionary,” he said of the recent missed practices. ” (Team trainers are) making sure they’re doing the right thing to get me ready. Like I said, the team is doing the right thing.”
While Jones has been sidelined, Sean Locklear has filled in at left tackle while Tom Ashworth has manned Locklear’s spot at right tackle.
Injury update: Several players missed Sunday’s practice because of injuries suffered in the Saturday intrasquad scrimmage, but wide receiver Ben Obomanu was not among them.
Obomanu, who was taken from the stadium in an ambulance after incurring a big hit from safety C.J. Wallace, was back on the practice field Sunday without any lingering effects.
“It didn’t scare me at all,” Obomanu said one day after undergoing tests for a possible concussion. “I’ve actually been hit a lot worse, where I was de-cleeted. It wasn’t one of my worst hits, but at the same time it was a good shot on me.”
Tight end Ben Joppru and wide receiver Courtney Taylor were not as lucky. Joppru is out indefinitely after suffering a hip pointer and a strained muscle in his leg. And Holmgren said that Taylor was likely to miss four weeks because of a knee injury he suffered in the scrimmage.
The only starter hurt in Saturday’s scrimmage was linebacker Leroy Hill, who suffered a hamstring injury that kept him off the practice field Sunday.
“We came out of it better than we thought at the time,” Holmgren said of the injuries.
Hackett’s the man: The star of Saturday’s scrimmage was wide receiver D.J. Hackett, who has a stranglehold on the starting split end job that was once considered an open competition.
“I thought that he had a good day,” Holmgren said after Hackett caught five passes in the scrimmage. “He caught the ball well, moved well, and we need that from him.”
Rookie cornerback Josh Wilson, who faces Hackett at practices, is among those who are impressed.
“He’s a deceiving receiver,” Wilson said. “It’s hard to read his routes, and that’s what makes him good. Every route is very similar, and you’ve got to be able to watch him and keep him under control.
“It’s great going against him because he gives you a different look than the other receivers.”
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