To add to the slew of Week Seven injuries in the National Football League, it has been announced that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will miss at least three weeks of play with a strained ligament in his right knee.
Hasselbeck’s injury was the result of a collision with Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson who came off a block by fullback Mack Strong and swung his torso into Hasselbeck’s leg, which was planted after he had just thrown an incomplete pass during the second half of Sunday’s 31-13 loss to the Vikings.
The hit was an accident, and was treated as such in the Oct. 22 contest, as it did not receive a penalty.
An MRI taken Monday showed that the quarterback strained his right medial collateral ligament, and has a Grade two sprain on a three-grade scale. Seattle Head Coach Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck will miss about three games and will return no sooner than the Nov. 19 game at Monster Park – formerly Candlestick Park – in San Francisco.
Stepping in to replace Hasselbeck over the course of the next three weeks, Seattle quarterback Seneca Wallace, will make his first NFL start Sunday at Kansas City.
Having already served as a substitute for Hasselbeck, Wallace was 14 for 25 for 134 yards passing with two interceptions in the contest. He also lost a fumble in his own end zone, while Vikings linebacker Ben Leber sacked him.
The Seahawks are already without league MVP running back Shaun Alexander, who is out with a broken foot. Holmgren said the 2005 league rushing leader is on track to return Nov. 6 against Oakland.
Yesterday, Wallace said that he has something to prove to the league, beginning Sunday against the Chiefs.
– Compiled by Monique Moyal
from The Associated Press