All systems go for Hasselbeck

KIRKLAND — Standing on the sideline Sunday at San Francisco, Matt Hasselbeck was in uniform and ready to play. He never did.

But this is a new week. A new opponent to prepare for, the Green Bay Packers. A presumably healthy quarterback.

"Matt, I think, will play in the football game," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Monday.

The team will go forward with the idea that Hasselbeck is ready to run the offense again, that he will start Monday night against the Packers. Hasselbeck said he felt he could have played at San Francisco, but he was designated as the emergency third quarterback and unavailable for duty unless he was the last healthy player at the position.

Now it's up to team trainers to see how far his sprained right knee has progressed.

"I think I'm doing better," Hasselbeck said. "We did some work [Monday] simulating a lot of that stuff. Simulating avoiding getting tackled. It seems like it's getting better every day."

Hasselbeck said he thinks he can play, but he has left that call up to the coaches.

"It's really my job just to show that I can do some of the stuff that they're worried about," he said. "Can I avoid? Can I move around? Can I run? Those kinds of things."

Hasselbeck has missed four games with the injury. He has practiced several times in the past 10 days as he continues to work back into shape.

But the Pro Bowl quarterback doesn't want to just be on the field.

"I have to play well," he said. "If I'm able just to get out there, that's not good enough. I have to get out there and I have to play well and I have to help us win. So I'm going to do all that I can to do that.

"But I would expect the coaching staff to be just as critical on me as they always are, and not give me a free pass because I'm fighting through an injury."

Hasselbeck is just one player Holmgren figures to have back from injury or illness this week. Others include starting center Robbie Tobeck and right tackle Sean Locklear, though Locklear could be an end-of-the week decision.

Holmgren said he's optimistic that wide receiver Bobby Engram could return from his thyroid problem for the next game, depending on tests Engram was to have Monday and today. And starting defensive tackle Rocky Bernard was on crutches Monday at team headquarters because of a sore right foot.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com