Rested Hawks get back to work
KIRKLAND - The business of football returned in full swing to Seahawks headquarters Monday with all of the players back from the bye week off.
The Seahawks don’t normally practice Mondays, lifting weights and doing conditioning on days after games. But because there was no game to play Sunday, they went through about a 70-minute workout.
“This is kind of a little bit of a bonus day, we’re calling it,” coach Mike Holmgren said afterward.
Not all the players practiced, though, with eight sitting out.
Among those not practicing was quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, whose strained oblique muscle kept him out per advice to Holmgren from the team medical staff. Wide receiver Deion Branch, fullback Leonard Weaver, defensive end Darryl Tapp, right tackle Sean Locklear and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, all starters, also missed practice.
“I wanted them to practice,” Holmgren said, “and I think we’re being a little careful. But I’ll go with what they [trainers and doctors] tell me, but they’re all practicing Wednesday.”
Hasselbeck stood and watched while backup Seneca Wallace and No. 3 quarterback Charlie Frye took snaps, Wallace working with the starters. Hasselbeck was one of what he said was a group of six Seahawks forced to stay in town for injury treatment, causing him to scrap a planned vacation.
“I haven’t tested it too much, but I think I’ll be fine,” Hasselbeck said of his oblique.
Tapp has a broken right hand suffered in the Seahawks’ last game, Oct. 21, and had surgery. He is expected to play Sunday at Cleveland. Tight end Marcus Pollard, who also missed practice, had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week in Seattle and is expected to miss the game.
Branch still has a sore foot but is expected to return to practice this week after missing the last game, Holmgren said. But wide receiver D.J. Hackett took part in practice Monday and will likely play in his first game since Week 1.
“If we can get Deion back, if we can get D.J. back, that would be huge because those guys have done a lot of work with us and they kind of fit in nicely,” Hasselbeck said. “A lot of these plays are designed for them. We have a lot of experience together.”
Locklear said a St. Louis Rams player fell on one of his ankles, so he’ll see how he feels by Wednesday when the team starts preparing for the Browns. Monday’s practice was more about self-evaluation.
“We tried to really focus in on what we can do better, more so than game planning and that kind of thing,” Hasselbeck said.
Defensive tackle Craig Terrill and offensive lineman Ray Willis also missed practice. Bernard and Terrill are expected back this week. Willis has a knee injury that will keep him out for perhaps another few weeks.
Boston’s finest
Hasselbeck, a native New Englander, was happy to see his Boston Red Sox win the World Series. He’s also enjoyed his alma mater, Boston College, going 8-0 this season and currently being ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings.
Hasselbeck was asked about the hot sports scene in New England - the NFL’s Patriots are also undefeated.
“They’re all very happy right now. I don’t blame them,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s wicked good right now.”
Note
• Holmgren came back with a bit of a tan from his bye-week time in Arizona. He admitted he “didn’t work very hard” and spent time taking walks, reading and riding his motorcycle.
José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com