Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck served as spectator all week during practice. He'll likely reprise that role Sunday for the Seahawks (1-3). Hasselbeck's sore right knee hasn't received clearance to play against Green Bay, meaning that Charlie Frye will likely be the starter against the Packers, coach Mike Holmgren said after practice Friday. Frye, the only completely healthy quarterback on the roster, took almost all the snaps in practice this week, while Hasselbeck rested his knee and backup Seneca Wallace nursed a sore calf. Holmgren said there is still a slight chance Hasselbeck could get cleared to play, but Holmgren must have the belief Hasselbeck won't be at an increased risk with his knee not 100 percent to consider putting him in the game. "Matt, I'm not sure. It will be a game-day decision there," Holmgren said. "The thing just has not responded. He can't do much with his leg. It's not ligaments, it's not anything like that. It's just sore. He doesn't have the green light to play. He could get it, but I have got to feel like he's not too vulnerable out there." Hasselbeck, officially listed as questionable, was walking just fine as he watched practice in his normal red No. 8 jersey and a neon green hat Friday. But the knee he hyperextended on a hit early in last weekend's 44-6 loss at the New York Giants has not shown progress, meaning Holmgren had to retract his words from earlier in the week that even if Hasselbeck didn't practice this week he would play against the Packers. As a head coach, Holmgren's never found himself in the position of having to use his No. 3 quarterback to start a game. "We're just not going to put him at risk out there," Holmgren said. "That's the main thing." Frye got valuable playing time during the preseason while Hasselbeck was out with a back injury. Frye started twice in the preseason and his display of growth in learning the Seahawks' system allowed Holmgren to tinker with the idea of using Wallace as a receiver last month when Seattle's receiver corps was decimated by injuries. Continued... |