Seattle Seahawks
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Just as the Seahawks finally got all their receivers back and healthy, D.J. Hackett is hurt again.
Seattle’s oft-injured starting receiver missed all but the stretching portion of practice Thursday, the team’s final workout before leaving for Saturday’s NFC playoff game against Green Bay. Hackett aggravated a sprained right ankle he’s had for most of the season by practising Wednesday. Four days earlier, he had six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Washington in the wild-card game.
"His ankle is a little bit sore. We rested it today," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "That will be a game-time decision.
"Instead of making it a little worse (Thursday), I think I’d rather have him there on Saturday."
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Hackett’s problem comes one day after fellow starter Deion Branch returned for the first time since Dec. 26. The 2005 Super Bowl MVP, one of Seattle’s most experienced playoff performers, practised again Thursday and had precautionary ice on his strained right calf as he walked off the field after the workout.
When asked to confirm Branch’s proclamation he would play against the Packers, Holmgren said, "Looks like it, yeah."
Holmgren said All-Pro defensive end Patrick Kerney will start Saturday. Kerney, second in the NFL with 14 1/2 sacks this season, practised for the first time this week after what he called "just rest." The Seahawks called it a left knee issue on their injury report.
Seattle has had its full corps of receivers for just 2 1/2 games this season – and not since a win at St. Louis seven weeks ago. Yet Matt Hasselbeck set team record for yards (3,966), completions (352) and attempts (562).
Hasselbeck values the six-foot-two Hackett for his speed and size. Hackett severely sprained the ankle on his only catch of the season opener, when his foot got snagged in his home field’s turf while he was being tackled.
He missed the next six games, returned with 27 catches and three touchdowns in four games, then was out four more weeks with the same injury. He returned for the regular-season finale two weeks ago.
Source: Seahawks’ Hackett hurt, iffy for Saturday
