Sports

POSTED: Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

Hasselbeck rounding into shape for Seahawks

Banged-up Seattle quarterback says he’s feeling better with each passing week

Renton – He’s getting better.

It’s been more than a month since Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck suffered a rib injury against San Francisco in Week 2 of this season. Hasselbeck proved a quick healer, missing only two games, returning sooner than he probably should have and leading his team to a victory over Jacksonville three weeks later.

Now heading into his fourth game since returning from the injury, Hasselbeck said he’s getting closer to being 100 percent healthy, but that his recovery has been slowed by being out on the field.

Hasselbeck took some vicious hits in the team’s 38-17 loss at Dallas, at one point going down in a heap after a sack and having to be looked at by trainers on the field.

“One of the things when you come back early from an injury when you really shouldn’t probably, you add on some healing time,” he said. “You probably add on, create some other nagging things. I think that’s probably the case. But I hope that I can get there.”

For the second straight week, Hasselbeck was limited in practice, using Wednesday to rest some nagging aches and pains. And just like last week, Hasselbeck was back at it and a full participant at practice on Thursday.

Seattle offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said the missed practice time should not affect Hasselbeck’s performance as long as he gets his work in on Thursday and Friday.

“Of course as a coach you want him to get as many reps as possible,” Knapp said. “But in some ways this is good to help the development of Mike Teel doing scout team and Seneca (Wallace) getting plays with our game plan in case he’s needed on Sunday.

“Because of his experience, it’s not as big a concern that it’s just Wednesday. As long as he’s back Thursday and Friday, I’m OK.”

Hasselbeck also talked about the roster moves made by Seattle this week, saying that head coach Jim Mora got the players’ attention after the game on Sunday by saying some changes would be made, then following through on his statement this week.

“Those of us who have been around, you know roster moves are going to happen after you start like we started,” he said. “He (Mora) had said it plain out, that we were going to make some changes, we’re going to do some evaluating, and they did it.

“His words weren’t hollow. They definitely did it. They backed it up.”

Redding faces ex-mates

After spending his first six years in the league with the Detroit Lions, defensive lineman Cory Redding will face his former teammates for the first time. Redding said it will be good to see some friends and familiar faces, but he will be all business once the whistle blows.

“I left a lot of good guys there,” Redding said. “But on Sunday it’s all about going out there and putting on the pads and beating each other up for three hours.”

After enduring Detroit’s 0-16 season last year, Redding said the Lions getting their first win this season against Washington brought a smile to his face. Redding said he called a couple of his former teammates to congratulate them after the team’s victory.

“I was excited for them,” he said. “I know what it felt like. Going 0-16 is nothing I’m proud about, you know what I mean? But that’s on my résumé. And I’ve got to live with that every day of my life. So for them to get that win, I was equally happy for them. … That was good for them to get that win. They needed that.”

Injury update

Wide receiver Ben Obomanu (oblique) was the only member of the Seahawks who did not practice. Offensive tackle Sean Locklear (ankle) was a limited participant in practice, along with cornerback Ken Lucas (neck). Locklear did not participate in the team drills portion of practice. Safety Jordan Babineaux (hip), Hasselbeck (ribs) and linebacker Will Herring (shoulder) were full participants in practice.

eric.williams@thenewstribune.com

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