CHENEY – In what is becoming an annual occurrence, Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Floyd Womack suffered an injury at Wednesday’s practice and is expected to be out of the lineup for up to a week.
Womack, the starting left guard, strained his right hamstring during the morning session and was replaced by rookie Rob Sims. Backup center Chris Spencer finished the practice at left guard, and coach Mike Holmgren said either Sims or Spencer will probably start Saturday’s preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
“When (Womack) comes back, we will plug him back in there,” Holmgren said. “He’s our left guard, if he’s not hurt. It’s not very complicated.”
Womack suffered a toe injury two games into the 2003 season and missed six weeks. In 2005, he tore his triceps in a preseason game and was out the first four games of the regular season.
His latest injury does not appear to be as serious.
“He’s had some bad luck with” injuries, Holmgren said. “He is in good shape – his weight is down now – and I feel bad for him. He’s worked hard to be the guy, and I want him to be successful. We need him, as a team, to be successful.”
Womack is still slated to be Steve Hutchinson’s replacement at left guard. Hutchinson, who has been to the past three Pro Bowls, signed with the Minnesota Vikings during the offseason and joins wide receiver Joe Jurevicius as the only offensive starters no longer with the Seahawks.
Spencer, a first-round pick in the 2005 draft, said he’s ready to step in if needed.
Although he spent the entire 2005 season practicing at center, Spencer has also seen time at guard this summer.
“This league is about the more you can do,” Spencer said. “The more I can do, and the more coaches see me doing it, the better my playing time.”
Extra hour of duty: By making one of the most remarkable catches of the entire camp, special teams coach Bob Casullo gave himself an extra hour of work Wednesday.
Casullo, who had curfew duty on Wednesday night, was the last coach who took part in a kick-for-curfew contest. He made a running, over-the-shoulder catch of a Gabe Lindstrom punt to secure an extra hour of curfew for the players.
“I should have let the thing go,” Casullo said. “Then I wouldn’t have to stay up until midnight.”
Holmgren held the contest at the end of Wednesday’s morning practice. He let the players choose four coaches, then Holmgren added Casullo to the mix. Three successful catches would result in an extra hour of curfew.
Assistants Bill Laveroni and Zerick Rollins failed to catch punts before quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn and secondary coach Teryl Austin were successful. That put the pressure squarely on Casullo’s shoulders.
With chants of “Bob … Bob … Bob” coming from the players lined up on the sideline, Casullo turned to chase a high punt that sailed over his head. He caught the ball on a dead run, then got swarmed by jubilant players.
“If you’re in this game long enough, and you think you’ve seen everything, you’re wrong. There’s always something that will blow your mind,” Holmgren said afterward. “I was so sure (Casullo would fail). … I picked Casullo, knowing I wouldn’t have to give them an extra hour, and of course he took that as a challenge.”
Casullo quipped afterward that “there was no doubt that I had it all the way,” but the players were not so sure.
“Never in my right mind would I have thought he was going to catch that ball,” linebacker Niko Koutouvides said. “If any punt returner drops a ball this year, Bob Casullo has the right to say whatever he wants. He did catch a heck of a ball.”
Quick slants: Bobby Engram was the star of Wednesday’s morning practice, catching two touchdown passes on one drill and making a nice, leaping grab of a long Matt Hasselbeck pass on another. … Tight ends Mike Gomez (foot) and Keith Willis (illness) missed Wednesday practices. … Left tackle Walter Jones returned to practice after taking a routine afternoon off the previous day. … Defensive end Darryl Tapp (hip) and linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski (quadriceps) returned to practice Wednesday.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
