Renton – The Seattle Seahawks linebackers unit underwent a change Monday.
Seahawks head coach Jim Mora announced that starting outside backer Leroy Hill suffered a groin injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s 28-0 win over St. Louis and will miss a couple weeks.
Third-year pro Will Herring will start in place of Hill, and the team signed veteran linebacker D.D. Lewis to a one-year deal to add depth.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Lewis is expected to earn $700,000, the prorated portion of the veteran minimum.
Lewis, 30, was a surprise cut when the team reduced its roster to the final 53 players on Sept. 5. He can fill in on special teams and play all three linebacker positions.
To clear a roster spot for Lewis, the Seahawks waived defensive lineman Derek Walker. The team hopes he can be added to the practice squad once he clears waivers.
“We’re lucky he’s still there,” Mora said about Lewis. “We’re lucky he wanted to rejoin us. D.D.’s a guy who a lot of players on this team have a lot of respect for. He’s been a captain. So the guys were excited to have him back in the locker room.”
Mora said linebacker Lofa Tatupu suffered a hamstring injury but is expected to be ready for the game against San Francisco.
Hill, who signed a six-year, $36 million deal in the offseason, has yet to play a full 16-game season in his five years in the league.
Last year Hill missed the last four games of the season with a pinched nerve in his neck. In 2007, he missed two games with foot and hamstring injuries.
Herring, 26, started the 2008 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with an arthritic condition that caused swelling in his knees and ankles.
He returned to play in 11 games, starting late in the season against the New York Jets.
Seahawks linebackers coach Zerick Rollins said Herring’s added playing time late last season helped his confidence, and he has extended that success in 2009.
“He’s a smart guy,” Rollins said. “He’s athletic and he’s instinctive. And normally you don’t see that combination, so he’s got it all. And he’s very competitive.”
Tatupu pledges his brain
Tatupu is one of three active players joining former players in agreeing to donate their brains after death to a Boston University medical school program that studies sports brain injuries.
The other players are Matt Birk of the Baltimore Ravens and Sean Morey of the Arizona Cardinals. The purpose of the study is to help improve the safety of retired and future athletes.
The players’ brains and spinal cord tissue will go to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy so researchers can better understand the effects of concussions. More than 150 former athletes, including 40 retired NFL players, are in the research program.
Tatupu joined the effort when former Seahawks teammate Isaiah Kacyvenski, who also agreed to donate his brain to the study, invited him to get involved.
Extra points
Mora said that offensive tackle Walter Jones (knee) and center Chris Spencer (quad) could return to practice this week, but does not know if they will play on Sunday. … Mora said the team never considered playing wide receiver Deion Branch (hamstring) on Sunday because they knew he wasn’t ready to go. Mora said he doesn’t know if Branch will be ready for Sunday’s game against the 49ers. … Mora singled out defensive end Lawrence Jackson as someone who played well against the Rams. The team’s first-round choice in 2008, he finished his rookie season with two sacks, but had two tackles and a sack against St. Louis. … The Seahawks will bring in offensive tackle Damion McIntosh for a visit today.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
