Olindo Mare is still with the Seahawks

RENTON — Upon further review, Jim Mora admitted to a little unnecessary roughness after Sunday's game.

Seattle's coach said he was a little too critical of Olindo Mare's kicking after Sunday's loss to Chicago.

"I let the emotion of the game get to me in my answers about Olindo," Mora said Monday.

Seattle's kicker won't get the boot after Mare missed two of his six field-goal attempts in Sunday's 25-19 loss to Chicago. While his coach isn't satisfied with that performance, he was no longer seething. In fact, he was spreading sunshine.

"I have very high, high expectations for Olindo," Mora said. "And it's because of the work that he has done in this league. He has been an outstanding kicker."

He was not, however, an outstanding kicker against Chicago because after missing only three field-goal attempts all of last season, Mare missed two in less than a quarter against Chicago. He missed a 43-yard attempt in the final minute of the second quarter and then failed on a 34-yard attempt with 8:08 left in the third quarter. Both hooked to the left of the goal post.

"Gotta' make those kicks," Mora said after the game. "Especially in a game like this where you're kicking and scratching and fighting and playing your tail off, and you miss those kicks.

"Not acceptable. Not acceptable. Absolutely not acceptable."

It wasn't any more acceptable Monday, but Mora ratcheted down his words.

"Would I like him to make those two kicks?" Mora said. "Yeah, but I wouldn't like him to make them any more than he'd like to make 'em."

Mora never apologized for what he said, only that he was too direct in his assessment.

"When the question was directed it at me, I answered it honestly, but probably with just a little too much, you fill in the word," Mora said.

Well, blunt would probably work.

Mora was asked if he felt the need to speak to Mare, and the coach said there had been a team meeting Monday morning, the implication being it was discussed there. Mare spoke to reporters after Sunday's game when he solemnly took responsibility for the missed kicks. Mare was not available Monday as the team's specialists were not in the locker room when it was opened to reporters Monday.

The wounded

Linebacker Lofa Tatupu ran Monday, testing the injured hamstring that kept him out of Sunday's game. Mora said that barring a setback, Tatupu should be ready to play on Sunday.

The status of Walter Jones and Matt Hasselbeck this week is more uncertain. Jones will practice as he did last week, but Mora said it was unclear if he'll be ready to play.

"This is almost like his training camp time right now," Mora said.

There have been no setbacks in Jones' recovery from two knee surgeries in the previous 10 months, it's just a matter of improving conditioning and gaining confidence in his leg.

"Whenever you're overcoming a lower leg injury, there are some mental hurdles you have to jump over," Mora said. "And he's doing that, but we're just not quite there yet."

Mora said it would be a stretch to ask Hasselbeck to practice Wednesday, but his status remains up in the air.

"Touch and go," Mora said. "That's just unpredictable. It depends on how he feels."

Notes

• LG Rob Sims suffered a strained oblique in the second half Sunday and he may not be available this week.

• LT Brandon Frye played through a groin injury Sunday, and while he may miss some practice this week, he is expected to play Sunday.

• CB Ken Lucas left Sunday's game with an injury in the fourth quarter, but is expected to be fine for practice.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com