SAN FRANCISCO – Nobody told Seneca Wallace to get ready to go in. He saw Matt Hasselbeck dive head-first for the goal line and take a nasty hit from San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis. And in the time it took for people to realize that Hasselbeck wasn’t getting up right away, Wallace had his helmet on and was trotting onto the field.

Such is the life of a backup quarterback.

“My job is to come in and provide that spark and keep on moving,” Wallace said after Sunday’s 23-10 loss to the 49ers.

Wallace did exactly that, coming in with 26 seconds left in the first half and the Seahawks in desperate need of a touchdown. Faced with a third-and-1 from the San Francisco 1-yard line, Wallace flipped a swing pass to Julius Jones for the Seahawks’ only touchdown of the game.

“Seneca came in the first play and executed that first play perfectly and gave us some hope,” coach Jim Mora said.

It was more than hope. At the time, it seemed like a pivotal play as Seattle narrowed the 49ers’ lead to 13-10 despite playing an otherwise forgettable first half.

“I was thinking, we got to score,” Wallace said of of his thoughts when he came in the game.

“Matt did his part. He made a great effort trying to get us in the end zone, but unfortunately something happened to him.”

That “something” ended up being bruised ribs, Mora said after the game. But at the moment, it appeared much worse. And there was little doubt after Hasselbeck was down on the field for several minutes and then helped off the field that Wallace would play out the duration of the game.

While he wasn’t expected to maintain his one play, one touchdown production of the first half, Wallace tried to give a sagging and sputtering offense some sort of lift.

But he couldn’t.

Wallace wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t great. He tried to manage the game and make plays, but the Seahawks offense struggled to execute and find any sort of rhythm in the second half.

Wallace completed 15 of 23 passes for 127 yards. He made a few nice throws to T.J. Houshmandzadeh and John Carlson, but he couldn’t string together enough of them to cut into the two-score deficit.

“Throughout the week, we knew they were going to take away our first read and make us come back to our second read,” Wallace said. “But it wasn’t anything big that they were doing. We just never got anything going offensively.”

Seattle’s offensive troubles were bigger than Wallace.

“Certainly when you lose your trigger man that affects you, although we have great confidence in Seneca,” Mora said.

They may need that confidence because Wallace could be starting at quarterback next Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Qwest Field.

With the nature of rib injuries and physical play of the NFL, Hasselbeck’s status is likely in doubt for next week.

“We’re not too concerned about Matt getting back on the field,” said receiver Nate Burleson. “For me, as a friend, I want to make sure he’s healthy first.”

If Hasselbeck can’t go next week, Wallace will make the 13th start of his career. His record is 5-7 in 12 starts. Last season, when Hasselbeck went down with a back injury, Wallace started eight games in his place, leading the team to a 3-5 record and throwing for 1,532 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions.

If they aren’t exactly awe-inspiring numbers, its not as if the Seahawks have to throw rookie Mike Teel in there or go out and sign a veteran off the scrap heap.

“Seneca is a threat,” Burleson said.

“He’s tremendously quick and accurate and he knows the offense.”

Burleson said the early injuries provide opportunities for others to step in and show they can play. For Wallace, this will be yet another chance after spending most of his career behind Hasselbeck.

“He’s patiently waited,” Burleson said.

“Obviously, he doesn’t want to come in under these circumstances, but I guarantee you he’s going to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483

ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com