KIRKLAND – Already in search of a cure for his team’s road woes, Mike Holmgren woke up Wednesday with something else ailing him.
The Seattle Seahawks coach had contracted a flu-like virus.
The stricken coach made it through work, although it wasn’t easy. He decided at the last second to attend his mid-day press conference, only to show the media gathering that his illness might have been affecting his ability to think straight.
When asked about Tim Couch, the lumbering backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, Holmgren went on for more than a minute about Couch’s athleticism and foot speed. Only after Holmgren mentioned how NFL teams had wanted Couch to play wide receiver did it become apparent that the coach was actually talking about former Nebraska quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.
When Holmgren was informed of his mistake, he simply chuckled and shook his head.
“It’s my medication I’m on,” he said.
A virus also affected quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who took part in Wednesday’s practice despite his health.
Injury update: Five players did not take part in Wednesday’s practice.
Safety Reggie Tongue (concussion), defensive end Brandon Mitchell (calf) and wide receivers Bobby Engram (thigh) and Darrell Jackson (ankle) are on the injury report, while linebacker Chad Brown took a routine day off to rest ongoing foot problems.
Tongue, Mitchell and Jackson are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Tongue underwent a series of tests following a concussion he suffered in last Sunday’s loss to Baltimore and could be cleared to play against the Cleveland Browns this weekend.
Linebacker D.D. Lewis, who missed the Baltimore game due to a back injury, returned to practice Wednesday.
Hasselbeck shining: NFL.com voters honored Hasselbeck as the FedEx Air player of the week.
Hasselbeck completed 23 of 41 passes for 333 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
With his performance Sunday, Hasselbeck now ranks second in the NFC with a 91.6 rating.
New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister was named the FedEx Ground player of the week after rushing for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
No sellout yet: About 2,000 tickets still remain for Sunday’s home game against Cleveland, meaning there is no guarantee that it will be televised locally.
The typical league deadline for television blackouts would be this afternoon, but the holiday is likely to bring an extension until Friday.
Quick slants: In an effort to boost production on the defensive line, the Seahawks will give more playing time to second-year end Anton Palepoi this Sunday. Palepoi has been inactive for eight of Seattle’s 11 games this season. … The Seahawks are still one player below the 53-man limit, so they could activate someone this weekend. Holmgren said the decision depends on whether Jackson and/or Tongue are unavailable to play, thereby opening the door for a practice squad player like receiver Taco Wallace or safety Walter Bernard to possibly be added to the roster. … The Seahawks will practice this morning, then get the afternoon off to observe the holiday. Holmgren and his wife, Kathy, will help serve food with the Salvation Army at a mission in downtown Seattle.
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