Rhodes’ role reduced

Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and his good friend and defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes had already agreed to a reduced work load in September, after the 55-year-old Rhodes had a stroke.

“But he cheated,” Holmgren said Wednesday.

So now, five days after Rhodes’ second stroke-like episode in two months, Holmgren is going to Plan B.

“I’m going to go into his office every day at 5 o’clock and escort him to his car,” Holmgren said.

He was smiling, but he apparently was not joking.

Holmgren, Rhodes and doctors have decided the former Philadelphia and Green Bay coach can no longer be on the practice field. Rhodes will not be in the press box for Sunday’s game against St. Louis.

The team has not definitively said Rhodes had another stroke Friday, for which he was hospitalized for a day, causing him to miss Seattle’s win at Arizona. But Holmgren and doctors are obviously concerned Rhodes is not healthy enough to continue at his usual pace.

Linebackers coach John Marshall is now Seattle’s full-time coordinator, after taking play-calling duties from Rhodes in September. Before Holmgren hired Marshall in 2003 from Detroit, Marshall was San Francisco’s linebackers coach in 1994, when Rhodes was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.

Former defensive line coach Zerick Rollins, in his fifth year with the team, is filling Marshall’s role leading the Seahawks’ linebackers.

Knee problems sideline Sharper

The Seahawks’ precocious defense got younger when nine-year linebacker Jamie Sharper was lost from the NFC West leader with a swollen and infected right knee.

That means fourth-year man D.D. Lewis, back after missing last Sunday’s win at Arizona with a sore right knee, moves from the left to Sharper’s right side spot for Sunday’s division showdown against second-place St. Louis.

Plus, rookie third-round draft choice Leroy Hill will make his second career start at left outside linebacker.

Urban released after injury

The Seahawks, already thinned by injuries at wide receiver, released Jerheme Urban for a stress fracture in his left foot.

Urban started his second career game Sunday at Arizona. He had a 46-yard catch late in the second quarter to set up a Seahawks touchdown before getting hurt. In four games this season, he caught seven passes for 151 yards.

Chiefs lose Holmes for season

Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes will miss the rest of the season because of head and neck trauma diagnosed by three experts on spinal injuries.

A helmet-to-helmet blow he absorbed on Oct. 30 against San Diego was the most recent problem for the 32-year-old running back. But coach Dick Vermeil said signs of trouble first showed up when Holmes developed tingling in his hands during training camp.

Holmes, 32, a three-time Pro Bowler whose 66 touchdowns between 2002-2004 are an NFL record for any three-year span, was placed on injured reserve.

Union defends Owens

The NFL Players’ Association wants the Philadelphia Eagles to cut Terrell Owens if they’re not going to reinstate him after his four-game suspension is over.

“We’re not asking them to play him, we can’t force them to do that,” Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA’s executive director, said. “But if they’re not going to let him come back to practice and do all the other things associated with that, then we want them to cut him, let him become a free agent now.”

The union already has appealed the four-game suspension levied on the wide receiver by the Eagles.

“Owens was put on the reserve/suspended list as the Eagles made a string of roster moves while losing center Hank Fraley for the season after shoulder surgery.

The Eagles re-signed tight end Chad Lewis and signed offensive lineman Jamaal Jackson from their practice squad, linebacker Dedrick Roper from Pittsburgh’s practice squad and put backup linebacker Jason Short on injured reserve.

Notes

Kordell Stewart was cut by the Baltimore Ravens, who no longer need him as a backup quarterback now that Kyle Boller has returned from a toe injury. … Running back Fred Taylor missed practice with a badly sprained right ankle and was listed as doubtful for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ game against Baltimore. … Left tackle Jonas Jennings will miss the rest of the 49ers’ season after surgery on his right shoulder. … Bears’ starting right tackle Fred Miller will miss two weeks after hurting his jaw in a fall at his home earlier this week, an injury that required surgery, coach Lovie Smith said. … Rookie offensive lineman Richie Incognito was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list by the Rams. … Quarterback Cody Pickett will make his second straight start for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Chicago. … Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot is expected to miss four to six weeks because of a broken right collarbone.