Two guys fighting for roster spots, RB Josh Scobey and CB Jimmy Williams, have been missing practices. Williams remains sidelined with a sprained ankle, but Scobey returned to the field for the special teams practice in the afternoon after missing the last 3 practices with an undisclosed illness (flu-like symptoms).
Missing a few practices is not a big deal, but it hurts when you are on the fringe of the roster. David Kirtman reportedly needs to improve his study habits, but he has a good chance of supplanting Scobey on the roster. If Weaver can serve as the third halfback, Kirtman can make an impact in special teams coverage, and one of the young receivers can win the return job, then Scobey's value is really minimized.
Jimmy Williams could miss the cut for similar reasons with Peter Warrick taking over the punt return duties. The team does not really need five cornerbacks and Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Kelly Herndon, and Jordan Babineaux are all locks to make the roster. Mike Holmgren has gone on record as saying "you need four safeties, you really do." Mike Green has been playing very well - he even has a shot to start in front of Michael Boulware, especially as he recovers from his knee surgery. Green has a lot more experience at safety than Boulware.
It seems more likely that the Seahawks will keep 7 DBs with Babineaux being both the 4th corner and 4th safety or 8 DBs with Shaunard Harts as the 4th safety than to include CB Jimmy Williams in the mix. Babineaux is coming off of an injury as well, but that means 3 of the possible safeties - Hamlin, Boulware, and Babineaux - have some injury concerns, which could help Harts chances of making the team. Trufant, Jennings, Herndon, and Babineaux have the makings of one of the better, deeper groups of cornerbacks in the league. If Williams is not returning punts, then he is just not that valuable. It would be very unlikely for the Seahawks to keep 9 DBs.
D.J. Hackett will be out 2-3 weeks with a Grade I strained hamstring, which could make it more likely that the Seahawks keep 6 receivers. Darrell Jackson and Hackett are currently sidelined, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson missed time last year with injury, and Peter Warrick is two years removed from a major knee injury. Ben Obomanu and Keenan Howry are the leading candidates for that final spot, and it could go to whoever wins the kickoff return job. Obomanu made a great move and touchdwon catch in practice today, but he covered up the tight end after he shifted, so it would have been called back because it created an illegal formation. Holmgren corrected Obomanu instead of praising him, but it is nice to see Obomanu making catches after struggling with drops earlier in camp.
AP Sports Writer Gregg Bell, who has been producing daily articles covering the Seahawks, discusses Darrell Jackson's injury (among other things), specifically that he will probably not play until the final exhibition game at San Diego on August 26.
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