It wasn’t noticeable in the win over Baltimore on Sunday, particularly on an impressive 50-yard completion to receiver Doug Baldwin, but Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is still working to recover from the strain of his right pectoral muscle.
Jackson was listed as a limited participant in Friday’s practice in preparation for an NFC West matchup against the Rams in St. Louis on Sunday.
“Tarvaris did very well in practice (Thursday) and couldn’t throw today,” coach Pete Carroll said Friday afternoon. “The way we’ve been staging it, we go all the way to game day and have him throw … and he should be able to do it by what we’ve seen the last few weeks. We kind of have a feel for it … but it’s not comfortable today.”
As was the case last week, “he can throw one day and then he’s got to rest a few days before he can come back and throw again,” Carroll said.
Jackson passed for 323 yards against Cincinnati and then put together an 88.0 passer rating in the win over Baltimore. But there are effects to missing team sessions.
“He missed the opportunity for (game plan) installation at the end off the week,” Carroll said. “He has to kind of think through the routes and read through them standing behind the quarterback. It’s just not the same but we still feel confident in his helping us win. He looked really good a day ago, so that’s how we’ll go. It’s not the way you’d design it … but hopefully we’ll be able to play through that.”
INJURY UPDATES
Carroll said he thought the team had a good week of practice despite the natural concerns over the knee injury that caused right tackle James Carpenter to be lost for the season.
Carroll said that both Carpenter and right guard John Moffitt will have their knee surgeries on the same day next week. The good news for the Seahawks, though, is that the players who suffered concussions recently – Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Kam Chancellor and Dave Vobora – are all available to play Sunday at St. Louis. The two players with hamstring issues, Atari Bigby and Anthony Hargrove, will be monitored until game time.
SAME OLD GAME PLAN
The injuries to Carpenter and Moffitt will not cause Seattle to change its offensive scheme, as replacements Breno Giacomini and Paul McQuistan have both started this season and are up to speed on their assignments, Carroll said. “Whenever somebody gets hurt, the heart gets crushed a little for the guys, but the other side of it is the opportunity. These guys come to play here; they’re going to jump at the opportunity and go for it.”
RELENTLESS BACK
The biggest task for the Seahawks facing the Rams is stopping running back Steven Jackson, who is averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Seahawks linebacker Vobora played three seasons with Jackson and the Rams, and he’s been asked all week by teammates for scouting reports. And while he may be able to help with advice on Jackson, stopping him is another matter.
“No one works harder than that guy,” Vobora said. “That man’s a thoroughbred. They’ve got the (Budweiser) Clydesdales in St. Louis, but Steven Jackson is a thoroughbred.”
Jackson is a three-time Pro Bowl selection even though the Rams have struggled as a team. None of which has slowed him.
“He’s just so much of a competitor,” Vobora said. “He’s one of the most hungry backs I’ve ever been around. He wants to be fed, he wants to put the whole team on his back. When you have somebody that relentless, that’s the attitude you have to bring, too.”
Dave Boling: 253-597-8440
dave.boling@thenewstribune.com
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