Hawks Make Change At Tight End

The ever-so-slight winds of change blew into the Seattle Seahawks lineup as they headed to Indianapolis for Sunday’s game against the Colts.

Carlester Crumpler replaces Christian Fauria as the starting tight end, dropping Deems May to third-string. A pulled groin muscle leaves Sam Adams as questionable and creates the chance of Dan Saleaumua starting next to Cortez Kennedy at defensive tackle. By Sunday, the Seahawks also will have to decide whether veteran Jeremy Lincoln will replace Fred Thomas as the first cornerback off the bench.

“On the third cornerback, we haven’t made a decision,” Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said. “Jeremy’s had a good week of practice. But the Colts also use a lot of four-receiver sets, so depending on down and situation, we’ll use extra defensive backs.”

Thomas, last year’s second-round choice, was burned for two touchdown passes in his first extended action last year against Jacksonville and for two touchdown passes in the season-opening loss to the New York Jets. In nickel situations, Thomas has been a quarterback’s target.

Lincoln, 28, is in his sixth season and has started 35 NFL games for the Chicago Bears and one for the St. Louis Rams. The Seahawks signed him in June for $275,000 as a favor to agent Tom Condon. Stopping some of the leakage on pass defense could be a big favor if the Seahawks want to turn around an 0-2 start.

“I have experience, I’ve been to the playoffs and I’ve been in those critical games,” Lincoln said. “I’m sure they didn’t know much about me. I signed in June so they probably didn’t know a lot. But I’ve played this game for a long time.”

At 5-10, Lincoln would add an extra inch of height to a unit that has had some difficulty matching up against tall receivers. Thomas and Willie Williams are 5-9. Shawn Springs is 6-0.

Adams, bothered by a groin injury for the last few weeks, pulled a different groin muscle during Wednesday’s practice. Though he was in uniform Friday, Adams didn’t do much work.

“He’s questionable,” Erickson said. “He didn’t practice much. We’ll try to find out Saturday, but it will probably end up being a game-day decision.”

The Crumpler move came after he had a five-catch performance against the Denver Broncos. Two weeks ago, he was third string. Now, he starts.

“I just went into last week thinking where I stood was on third string, but that’s not my decision,” Crumpler said. “I can’t control their decision to play me or not to play me. I can only believe in myself. I can’t get too worried about what gets printed in the newspaper or what’s being said or what’s not being said.

“I just have to make sure I eliminate mistakes.”

Fauria believes mental mistakes cost him the chance to start against the Colts.

“I don’t think I played poor, but I didn’t make a play and on top of that, I made some mistakes,” Fauria said. “And with us not winning, I put myself in a bad position. I’ve been in an idiot state of mind over the past two weeks.”

On a team that has lost two games by a combined 59 points, Fauria isn’t alone.

Seahawks notes

With only 52 players on the roster, the Seahawks had to name only three inactives - quarterback John Friesz, defensive end Martin Harrison and wide receiver James McKnight. … Linebacker James Logan, inactive the first two weeks, may see some action on special teams. Kickoff coverage was a problem last week against Denver. … Willie Williams practiced for the second consecutive day and appears to have recovered from a hamstring injury. …

Colts wide receiver Sean Dawkins missed Friday’s practice with a pulled abdominal muscle that leaves him questionable.

Around the league

It appears the Green Bay Packers will be without two starting offensive linemen against Miami Sunday. Center Frank Winters’ badly sprained left foot will likely end his streak of playing in 84 consecutive games, and right tackle Earl Dotson will probably join him on the sidelines with a sprained left ankle and turf toe.

The NFL will hold an American Bowl preseason game in Vancouver, British Columbia, next year. The game will be played Aug. 15 at the city’s B.C. Place domed stadium.

Though not announced, the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are rumored to be the likely participants.

Since he was acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in 1994, San Diego receiver Tony Martin has never missed a game due to injury. But he is nursing a strained left hamstring and his status for Sunday’s game against Carolina is undetermined.

The Oakland Raiders have been fined $25,000 for violating league media policy following Monday night’s game against Kansas City by failing to open their locker room to the media.