RENTON -- There's no uncertainty at quarterback for Seattle right now.

At least not with coach Pete Carroll, who said the team will prepare as if Charlie Whitehurst will start after Matt Hasselbeck suffered a strained leg.

"I know that we can count on that," Carroll said, referring to Whitehurst. "And then we'll see what happens with Matt later on and see where he fits in. And Matt's going to do everything he can. He's absolutely determined to be playing in this game. He's already stated, 'I'm going to be there.' But we need to find that out."

Hasselbeck underwent more tests on Monday after the team returned from Florida. Hasselbeck was injured during a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, a play in which he was not touched. The strained muscle prevented him from being able to run or move sufficiently to return to the game.

Carroll did not provide a firm prognosis for Hasselbeck's return, leaving open the possibility it could go all the way to game time.

"It may be manageable," Carroll said. "It may be. The MRI results were not such that he doesn't have a chance. They were very hopeful that he does have an opportunity to get back, but we won't know for days so it's kind of a difficult situation for us because we don't know and we're not sure what's going to happen until we find out the news probably by Friday, Saturday. It may go all the way to game time."

In the meantime, the Seahawks are preparing Whitehurst to start.

"We're going with Charlie because we know he's ready to go," Carroll said. "He'll be able to have a great week and practice every snap and go full speed and all of that. If we knew this injury differently, we might be able to predict it. It's just a very unusual spot that Matt has sustained the strain. We just know how to predict what's going to happen so with that thought, that uncertainty, we're moving ahead without uncertainty."

How much would Hasselbeck need to practice if he's going to play?

"A quarterback in his situation could get by with the walkthroughs and things like that and have a real good chance to have the game plan in command," Carroll said. "I don't have any problem with that. It's just not knowing. I want to make sure that we go ahead and as we proceed through the week, and we know what we're doing, what we can do. If Matt can play a factor in that, then we'll figure that out until the time comes."

In other words, the situation wasn't any more clear after Monday's tests than it was after Sunday's game.

"We'll see what happens with Matt later on and see where he fits in," Carroll said. "And Matt's going to do everything he can. He's absolutely determined to be playing in this game. He's already stated, 'I'm going to be there.' But we need to find that out."

Notes

• Tackle Russell Okung reinjured his left ankle on Sunday, but returned to the game without missing a play. He's not 100 percent, but is not expected to miss more time, judging from Carroll's assessment.

• WR Brandon Stokley suffered a head injury, and Carroll said he was recovering Monday, he is not expected to practice Wednesday.