RENTON, Wash. (AP) -Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck likely will miss Seattle’s preseason game Monday at San Diego and probably won’t see any action until the regular season because of ongoing back stiffness.
Coach Mike Holmgren all but ruled his Pro Bowl quarterback out of his second consecutive preseason game. With the exhibition finale just three days later against Oakland, Hasselbeck remains unlikely to play again until Seattle’s opener Sept. 7 at Buffalo.
Hasselbeck has been Seattle’s starter since 2001 and set team records for completions (352), attempts (562) and yards passing (3,966) last season. He missed his eighth full practice in nine days on Friday, but emerged from the training room to watch the end of practice while wearing shorts, his practice jersey and a team cap. Holmgren said the quarterback isn’t expected to even make the trip Sunday to California.
“He has a tight back,” Holmgren said. “You wake up funny, or you tweak it or whatever. You’ve just got to let it calm down a little bit.”
Holmgren said third-stringer Charlie Frye will start against the Chargers and play most if not the entire game for the second consecutive week. No. 2 quarterback Seneca Wallace is back following a groin strain and said he expected to play in San Diego.
Hasselbeck said he first felt his back stiffen on the flight from Seattle to Minnesota for the team’s first preseason game on Aug. 8. He looked sharp in that game, completing seven of eight passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in two series against the Vikings. But he’s practiced just twice since – partly one day, and then a full practice Monday. Then his back stiffened more.
“He’s much better today, he told me that,” Holmgren said. “As I said the other day, he’s got to be ready to play the first game, so … “
So expect Hasselbeck’s next game to be one that counts.
Frye completed 20 of 35 passes with three interceptions while playing all of last weekend’s overtime win over Chicago. He said earlier this week his arm was sore and tired from all the throwing with both Hasselbeck and Wallace out. But the former starter with the Cleveland Browns until a trade last season said Friday his arm felt much better.
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