Seahawks injuries heal
KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks team that sustained countless nibbles from the injury bug is finally starting to get some love from the health gods.
Fullback Mack Strong practiced Friday for the first time this week and is expected to play in Sunday’s game at Arizona.
He’ll likely be joined by starting right tackle Sean Locklear, who has been out six weeks with a high ankle sprain but has been cleared to play Sunday.
Coach Mike Holmgren originally believed Strong might have also suffered a high ankle sprain when he was unable to finish last Sunday’s game at Denver, but the injury did not turn out to be as serious as thought.
“He said he felt OK during practice,” Holmgren said after Friday’s session. “He’s one of our warriors, and he makes things happen when we have him.”
Strong missed the first two practice days this week.
“It was good to be back, and now I’m excited to get back out there and do what I do,” Strong said. “… It’s not like I’m coming back full blast, but I was able to make sure that I could do the things that I’ll need to do to play in the game.”
Locklear has practiced all week and is expected to start at right tackle for the first time since Oct. 22.
If he does, it will mark the sixth different starting line the Seahawks have used this season – matching the total of starting combinations the Cardinals have gone through.
It’s been quite a different season for the Seahawks, who had the same five linemen start every game during the 2005 season.
“The news wasn’t all good on the injury front, however. Holmgren said wide receiver Bobby Engram is unlikely to return until next week, at the soonest.
Third-and-nothing
One of the strengths of the 2005 Seahawks was an ability to convert third downs and keep drives going, converting, nearly 40 percent of the time.
This season the Seahawks have a 34.8 percent conversion rate, ranking 23rd in the league.
In Sunday’s win at Denver, the Seahawks converted just 4 of 14.
“We weren’t converting on third downs, which hurt us,” Holmgren said. “That was a huge stat in that game.”
The past five games, Seattle’s offense is 22 of 70, or 31.4 percent. So it’s been a point of emphasis at practice this week.
“There’s no magic formula,” said Strong.
That’s really unimportant
From the meaningless statistic department: the Seahawks are 8-8 when playing in a road stadium for the first time since 1980. They will make their debut at the Cardinals’ new home Sunday.