KIRKLAND – When it comes to Marcus Trufant, the Seattle Seahawks are holding out hope for a “medical miracle.”
Those were the words coach Mike Holmgren used to explain Trufant being listed as “doubtful” – not “out” – on the injury report for Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay.
After suffering a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to San Diego, Trufant appears unlikely to play in the regular-season finale. And there’s a chance he won’t be available for the playoffs.
“You don’t know for sure, but it’s not looking real great,” Holmgren said, comparing the injury to the high ankle sprain that kept teammate Sean Locklear out for seven games earlier this season. “But let’s just wait and see.”
What is clear is that rookie Kelly Jennings is likely to make his first NFL start this Sunday. Holmgren said that the first-round pick in the April draft is ready for the challenge.
“He played his best football game the other day,” Holmgren said of Sunday’s 20-17 loss to San Diego. “He has improved as the season’s gone along, and now he’s got to step in and do it – if Marcus can’t play.
“That’s the deal. That’s the way it is.”
Trufant is one of three starters expected to miss Sunday’s game due to injury. Wide receiver Darrell Jackson (turf toe) is listed as doubtful and is unlikely to play, but there is a chance he’ll travel because Tampa is his hometown.
Center Robbie Tobeck (hip) is listed as “out,” meaning he’ll miss his eighth consecutive game on Sunday.
The Seahawks believe Jackson and Tobeck could be available for the playoffs.
Right guard Chris Gray (thigh) were also held out of Wednesday’s practice but is expected to play. Floyd Womack filled in for Gray at right guard Wednesday, while rookie Rob Sims stayed at left guard.
The Buccaneers’ injury report includes four starters, all of whom are listed as “questionable”: running back Cadillac Williams (foot), guard Davin Joseph (knee), safety Jermaine Phillips and defensive tackle Ellis Wyms (ankle).
No brace for Hasselbeck: When quarterback Matt Hasselbeck showed up for Wednesday’s practice, he was so jovial that offensive coordinator Gil Haskell thought something was amiss.
Just the opposite was true.
Hasselbeck was actually feeling more like himself, having ditched the brace that has been protecting his right knee. He’s been cleared to practice without the brace, but he’s expected to wear it in Sunday’s game.
Head games: Holmgren went 1 for 2 in his last orders of business Sunday night.
Long after most of the players and reporters had cleared out of the locker room, he sought out safety Michael Boulware and receiver Deion Branch in an effort to boost their spirits. He found Boulware, but Branch had already left the building.
Holmgren and Boulware went into a room inside Qwest Field on Sunday night and had a little one-on-one discussion about a play that resulted in the Chargers’ game-winning touchdown pass.
“I hope it did a little good,” Holmgren said of the discussion, “because he was hurting.”
Boulware was in better spirits during Wednesday’s practice. He will continue to work with the first team despite his coverage breakdown on Sunday.
Branch, meanwhile, took the blame for the loss Sunday night after dropping four passes. He said he didn’t feel right until Wednesday, when he returned to the practice field and started catching passes again.
“Once I got back around the guys on the practice field, I started to feel better,” he said. “But it’ll never completely go away.
“The best thing about it is that we have another game this week. If it had happened in the playoffs, that would have been a very bad thing. But I’m over it, and now I just have to go out and play my game.”
Hasselbeck has no qualms about throwing Branch’s way again.
“I don’t worry about that guy at all,” the quarterback said.
Quick slants: Due in large part to Trufant’s injury, the Seahawks signed cornerback Rich Gardner, who played in 28 games with the Tennessee Titans over the past two seasons but got cut after training camp in September. To make room for Gardner on the roster, Seattle released defensive lineman Robert Pollard. … Both Holmgren and Haskell praised the play of offensive linemen Sims and Chris Spencer in Sunday’s loss to San Diego. “Rob Sims and Chris Spencer had their best games,” Haskell said. … A loss Sunday would mark the fourth time in franchise history that the Seahawks ended a season on a four-game losing streak. This year’s Seahawks (8-7) have as many wins as the previous three teams combined: the inaugural, 2-12 team in 1976, the 4-12 squad in 1980, and the 2-14 team in 1992.
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