Seahawks are confident QB Matt Hasselbeck will be able to play through injury to left wrist

Published on November 17, 2010 by Tacoma News Tribune (Feed)     

The Seahawks’ doctors and training staff are comfortable quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be able to play through the injury to his left wrist.

Hasselbeck just won’t be comfortable. Matter of fact, it’s going to be quite painful, requiring him to play with a splint for additional protection, and could limit his practice repetitions this week.

“He’ll be more comfortable with it if we can have good fortune with him not banging it in the next couple of weeks,” coach Pete Carroll said. “This first week is the most difficult.”

The Seahawks returned from Arizona after their best offensive performance of the season with a banged-up quarterback.

Hasselbeck suffered the injury on a fourth-down quarterback sneak in the second quarter. He played the final quarter and a half with a cast, and had his arm wrapped and wrist immobilized for the flight home. He had more tests performed Monday, which found two cracks in different bones in his left wrist.

“Just cracks, nothing displaced, no surgery that’s necessary,” Carroll said.

The estimate is four to six weeks for the injury to heal if it is not further aggravated.

Hasselbeck said after the game he did not initially think he’d be able to return to the game. Even though it’s his non-throwing wrist, it still takes impact upon receiving the snap from center and some handoffs. Hasselbeck said after the game the coaches had made accommodations in play selection.

“They worked with me a little bit on some of the play-calls,” Hasselbeck said.

Hasselbeck has played through an injury to his non-throwing arm. He suffered fractures in two fingers in his left hand in 2006 in his first game back from a knee injury. He did not miss a game because of the hand injury, at times playing with a glove.

Hasselbeck’s hand was the extent of Seattle’s injury report from Sunday’s game, according to Carroll.

Offensive tackle Russell Okung is cleared to practice without limitation on Wednesday after missing the past three games with a left ankle injury. Okung participated only in individual drills last week, and while he was able to run, he continued to favor his injured ankle. Tyler Polumbus started at left tackle, but Okung could be in that spot this week.

“Keep our fingers crossed,” Carroll said. “He’s dying to get back and he shouldn’t miss reps this week in practice, but we need to see how he can perform and we need to make a good decision on that. We won’t know that until the end of the week.”

Okung, the No. 6 overall pick in last spring’s draft, has started three games, but has been limited to a total of six quarters of playing time because of two ankle injuries. In those six periods, Seattle has averaged 4.4 yards per rush. Without Okung, the average is 3.3.

Defensive tackle Colin Cole and wide receiver Golden Tate missed the past two games with injuries. Tate is further along in his recovery, able to walk without a plastic protective boot. Carroll was not optimistic either would be available for Sunday’s game at New Orleans.

Tags: coach pete carroll, Cracks, first game, Flight Home, Fractures, Game Even Though, Good Fortune, Immobilized, Injury Report, Knee Injury, Left Hand, Matt Hasselbeck, Matter Of Fact, Offensive Performance, Quarterback Hasselbeck, Quarterback Sneak, Repetitions, Six Weeks, Splint, Two Fingers