Injured Seahawks Take on Division Rivals 49ers at Home
After a disappointing blowout loss to Buffalo in week one, the Seahawks have made some roster moves due to poor performance and injury. Hopefully the results will be different against the 49ers in week two at home in Seattle.
The Hawks released punter Ryan Plackenmeier, seventh-round draft choice Justin Forsett and wide receiver Jordan Kent. Seattle also welcomes back two key defensive players from league suspension, Rocky Benard and Jordan Babineaux.
The Seahawks worked out seven wide receivers including Samie Parker, Mark Bradford, Mike Hass, Michael Gasperson and Billy McMullen. Of those, they signed McMullen and Parker.
McMullen, 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, has played for several NFL teams -- three years with the Eagles and two-plus years with Vikings and Redskins. In 2005, McMullen caught a total of 41 passes for the Vikings and Eagles.
Samie Parker has 110 career catches in five years with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was in camp this year with the Panthers but did not make that team.
Jordan Kent and Nate Burleson were both hurt last week, making it four wide receivers the Hawks have already lost due to injury. The other two are Deion Branch and Bobby Engram, neither of whom are expected to play next week. Kent was released only after being injured.
Former Hawks receiver, free agent and speedster Koren Robinson is thought to be awaiting a phone call from Seattle but has yet to receive it. With all of the injuries to wide receiver and shuffling of the roster, backup quarterback Seneca Wallace could see some time at receiver.
At punter, the Hawks signed Jon Ryan to a two-year deal after he was released earlier this season by the Packers. Ryan averaged almost 45 yards a punt in full-time duty last season.
Plackenmeier who is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, had a kick returned for a touchdown last game and made another poor kick of only 22 yards that didn’t make it out of Seattle territory.
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Other injury news includes offensive lineman Rob Sims, who could have season ending surgery to his injured pectoral muscle. Floyd Womack is expected to be the replacement for Sims while second year lineman Mansfield Wrotto played guard during training camp.
Running back Maurice Morris is expected to miss two weeks including the following bye week before returning. Julius Jones was supposed to start at running back anyway. Normally a short yardage back, the powerful T.J. Duckett will probably see more carries as a result of the injury to Morris. Duckett could be set in the backfield with fullback Leonard Weaver to make a very strong duo.
The really good news is that Babineaux and Benard are returning from league-imposed suspensions to help a Seahawk defense that gave up 34 points to Buffalo last week. Babineaux is valued member of the Hawk secondary and defensive lineman Benard can stop the run as well as get after the quarterback.
The Hawks are expecting better game-time weather conditions for on Sunday with a high of 77 degrees and only a 10 percent chance of rain. Seattle is favored by seven points and have won nine out of the last 12 meetings against the 49ers dating back to 2002.
Seattle will be up against a big, physical back in Al Gore who rushed for 96 yards against the Cardinals in week one. The 49ers will be starting J.T. O’Sullivan at quarterback who threw for 200 yards in week one with an interception in a losing effort.
The 49ers were beat at home by the Cardinals by a score of 23-13.
> Also check out our 49ers Correspondent's preview of this game!
By Dusty Holden
ProFootball-fans.com Seattle Seahawks Correspondent