KIRKLAND, Wash. -- D.J. Hackett, who had just moved into the Seattle Seahawks' starting lineup at wide receiver, is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle.
Hackett, an inactive player on game days a year ago, played just one quarter in his new role opposite flanker Deion Branch before he got hurt in Sunday's 20-6 win over Tampa Bay. At the end of Hackett's only reception, a 7-yard gain in the first quarter, his foot was caught in the turf while trying to pivot as he was hit by Brian Kelly. He did not return to the game.
"He's going to be down for a while. I can't tell you for how long. Those things are very unpredictable," coach Mike Holmgren said Monday.
Holmgren said Hackett's injury is a "high" ankle sprain, not the traditional sprain in which the ankle joint is turned nearer the foot. The high sprain includes ligaments near the shin.
"This typically is longer (than a week). And in some instances it can be very, very long," Holmgren said. "The doctors can't really tell me right now."
But Holmgren added, "Fortunately, our depth I think is very good at wide receiver ... I think we'll be OK there."
Veteran Bobby Engram, used mostly as a third, slot receiver, may become even more prominent after catching three passes for 64 yards against the Buccaneers. Ben Obomanu missed the opener with a hamstring injury, but Holmgren thinks the seventh-round draft choice from Auburn in 2006 will play Sunday at Arizona. Rookie Courtney Taylor, also from Auburn, was inactive against the Bucs but could be available for the Cardinals game.
"And my ace in the hole is Seneca Wallace," Holmgren said, almost as a tease.
The Seahawks have used Wallace, Matt Hasselbeck's backup quarterback, sporadically at wide receiver, most notably for catches in each of the last two postseasons. But Holmgren said the team would have to sign a third, veteran quarterback to the roster before he will risk Wallace to injury as a receiver.
"Yeah, we're still looking," said Holmgren, who is entering a season with just two quarterbacks for the first time in his 16 years as an NFL head coach. "We know most of the quarterbacks (who are available)."
One of the more intriguing ones: Tim Hasselbeck, Matt's brother. He was released by the New York Giants earlier this month.
"That would be a dream come true for me," Matt Hasselbeck said last week of the prospect of his brother being a teammate. "It's not really my style to lobby the coaching staff or management or anything like that. Hopefully, I think the second week of the season, he'll probably get picked up somewhere and definitely help somebody. That'd be great for me.
"We'll see. You never know."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
