Sports

POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

Seahawks facing double whammy

RENTON – They usually need about a week to recover from the bumps and bruises after a physical game, but the Seattle Seahawks will have to strap it up twice in five days this coming week.

After hosting Washington on Sunday, the Seahawks turn around and travel to Dallas for the annual Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday.

It’s the first time Seattle will play in the holiday game since 1986, a 31-14 win over the Cowboys. The Seahawks game against Dallas will be the third time the franchise has played on Thanksgiving Day. Seattle also lost to Dallas in November of 1980, 51-3, when Jim Zorn, now the head coach for Washington, was the starting quarterback. And it’s the Seahawks’ first Thursday game since a 24-14 loss at San Francisco in December of 2006.

Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupu said he’d rather play a game than practice, but he could also use the down time his team receives during a regular week.

“I’d rather have adequate time to rest my body,” joked Tatupu. “But you’re absolutely right. If you’re going to do something, you’d rather make it count and play a game. But I’m sure both teams will have the feeling of, ‘We didn’t have enough time to really, fully prepare.’ You think maybe you’ll see teams stick to their guns more than really try and game plan. But you never know.”

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said his players are focused on the Washington game and not looking ahead to Dallas, but he knows he’ll have to give his players a little more rest heading into Thursday.

“We just have to be very smart on how we practice next week,” Holmgren said after practice on Friday. “We’re not going to be able to do much really. Their day off is Monday. … Then we practice on Tuesday and then travel on Wednesday.”

For safety Brian Russell, the Dallas game marks the first time he’s played in a Thursday game in his eight-year NFL career. Like Tatupu, Russell is concerned about getting enough recovery time after Sunday’s game. But he’s also looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of a national TV audience.

“I enjoy when the lights are on and you’re playing, that’s the best part of it,” Russell said. “The practice thing has its purpose, but that’s not what you want to be doing. To that end, it’s exciting. You get to line up and play again a lot quicker without all of the meetings and all of the drudgery really. So that’s fun. But realistically it’s not something you can do a whole lot during the season because the attrition would be crazy.

“These are two big games for us. It puts us in a different situation if we can go into that long weekend on a couple good games. So I’m excited about it, but they’re (Dallas) going to be playing the same way. They’re going to be a little tired, a little beat up.”

Extra points

With Clinton Portis (knee) a gametime decision for Sunday, Redskins running back Shaun Alexander will remain on the active list, the Washington Post reported. ... In his second week back, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck made it through a week of practices healthy and appears ready to go on Sunday. Fullback Leonard Weaver (ribs), along with wide receiver Koren Robinson (knee), worked with the first team and should be ready to go as well. Holmgren said Hasselbeck bounced back and had a good week of practice after his first game in six weeks. … Left guard Mike Wahle (shoulder) and safety C.J. Wallace (hamstring) did not practice and probably will not play Sunday. Red Bryant (ankle) also did not practice and probably will not play. … Holmgren said defensive end Patrick Kerney, who was placed on injured reserve this week, had some impingement in his shoulder and it wasn’t responding the way doctors had hoped after the surgery a couple of weeks ago. Kerney had another MRI performed this week and Holmgren said doctors believe Kerney might have another issue with his shoulder, so Kerney could have his shoulder looked at again. With the uncertainty regarding Kerney’s injury, Holmgren said the team decided to place him on injured reserve. … Defensive end Brandon Miller, who Seattle claimed off waivers on Wednesday after Atlanta released him, practiced on Friday. Holmgren said Miller is in game shape but likely will not play on Sunday because he still needs to learn Seattle’s defensive system.

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