KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) – Darrell Jackson’s on-and-off status now seems closer to “off.”
The Seahawks’ leading receiver unexpectedly missed practice again Friday, just before the team boarded an afternoon flight to Chicago for Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff game against the Bears. Coach Mike Holmgren said Jackson’s availability will be a game-time decision.
Holmgren had said at the beginning of the week that he expected Jackson, listed as questionable with a turf toe injury on his left foot, would practice by Friday and that he was “likely” to play Sunday.
Now, Holmgren’s not so sure about him – or D.J. Hackett. The emerging fourth receiver sprained his ankle during last week’s win over Dallas and is listed as doubtful against the Bears (13-3).
“Those will be Sunday decisions,” Holmgren said. “They’re going to have to show me something (during pregame drills) that tells me they can play.”
It’s yet another setback in season full of injuries for the defending NFC champions.
Last Saturday was the first time this season Seattle (10-7) had all of its receivers available for a game. The Seahawks started their ninth different combination of offensive linemen against the Cowboys. They have also played without quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, last season’s league MVP Shaun Alexander and tight end Jerramy Stevens for at least a month each.
“Kind of the way it’s gone,” Holmgren said of Jackson not practicing. “But I’m hopeful we’ll have one or both (Jackson and Hackett) Sunday.”
Jackson, who was leading the NFL in touchdown receptions before his injury caused him to miss the final three games of the regular season, also missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. He missed all practices last week before he ran 21 plays against Dallas.
Jackson pulled himself from that game one play into the third quarter because he said the pain had become unbearable. He had two passes come his way but no catches.
By midweek Jackson was optimistic he would play in Chicago, where Seattle will be seeking its first road playoff win since 1983.
“I’m going to play as much as I can, suck the pain up as much as I can,” Jackson said. “Try to give our team another weapon out there.”
AP-ES-01-12-07 1955EST
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