Seahawks Ailing At Linebacker

The Seattle Seahawks are wincing from the pain. Terry Wooden is doubtful and Michael Barber is questionable for the regular-season opener in San Diego.

“That’s part of pro football,” coach Dennis Erickson said, trying to sound philosophical.

The Seahawks’ defense, which looked so dominating in holding San Francisco without a touchdown in Friday’s exhibition finale, could be without two top linebackers against the Chargers next Sunday.

That was the bad news on Saturday. The good news was the Seahawks expect to have their top draft choice and starting left guard, Pete Kendall, ready to play against San Diego despite a fractured right thumb.

Wooden, the team’s starting strongside linebacker and leading tackler last season, sustained a pulled right hamstring in the Seahawks’ 20-3 victory over the 49ers in the Kingdome. Barber, Dean Wells’ backup at middle linebacker, suffered a hyperextended right knee.

The injuries to Wooden and Barber were not believed to be that serious after the game. A day later, they turned out to be a lot more painful.

If Barber can play, he will replace Wooden in the starting lineup. If he can’t play, second-year player Jason Kyle or rookie Eric Unverzagt will be Wooden’s replacement.

The 6-foot-5, 292-pound Kendall, from Boston College, underwent surgery Saturday to have a screw put in his right thumb, which was broken in the opening quarter of the 49ers’ game. Erickson listed him as probable for the opener.

Erickson had originally planned to announce his final seven cuts Saturday to get his roster down to 53 players, the NFL’s regular-season roster limit. But he decided to put it off a day because the club’s newest injuries complicated his decisions. He said he will announce them late this morning.

The Seahawks started training camp with their linebacking corps as their thinnest position. Then they lost Tyronne Stowe for the season when he re-broke his forearm, and James Logan for the start of the year with a fractured leg. They also let Duane Bickett go as a free agent to Carolina.

McCullough out for season

Rookie Deland McCullough, the Cincinnati Bengals’ leading rusher in the preseason, will need reconstructive knee surgery and is sidelined for the season.

McCullough tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee during a 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions Friday night. An MRI on Saturday also found torn cartilage.

Don’t look for Randall

Randall Cunningham plans to make it official in Philadelphia in the next two weeks: He’s retired. And he’s happy about it.

The season opens a week from today without Cunningham, once the NFL’s most feared offensive player. He is working with a granite and marble company owned by his wife back home in Las Vegas. And he will stay involved in football working for TNT.

Childs cut

The New Orleans Saints got a jump on today’s mandatory roster reduction, releasing four players, including former Washington State linebacker Ron Childs.

Cowboys 24, Oilers 19

Mission accomplished for the Dallas Cowboys (2-3) Saturday night: They beat the Houston Oilers (2-2) in Orlando, Fla, and avoided any more serious injuries.

Wade Wilson threw three touchdown passes - two to Derek Ware within a two-minute span of the third quarter - for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Colts 30, Packers 6

Once again, Jim Harbaugh wrecked Green Bay’s shot at a perfect preseason.

Harbaugh, who rallied host Indianapolis (3-2) in the final period and beat the Packers in overtime last year, barely needed more than the first two quarters to beat the Packers this time.

Harbaugh was 11-of-15 for 223 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game early in the third quarter.