Hawks salute Jurevicius
KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks will visit their savior this weekend.
The man who helped save the most remarkable season in franchise history will be in an opposing uniform when the Seahawks and Cleveland square off Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Joe Jurevicius joined the Browns last season after helping the Seahawks weather injuries to starting wide receivers Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram in 2005. Jurevicius ended up starting 12 games that season, as well as all three playoff games, to help the Seahawks go to the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
“He was a huge part of our success,” Engram said this week of Jurevicius, who caught 55 passes that season. “He came in, played hard, and played well. We had some injuries that year, and he was able to make plays to help us stay in games – and to help us win games.”
The Seahawks had just lost a Week 4 game to Washington, dropping their record to 2-2 that season, when it was revealed that Jackson and Engram would each miss multiple games with injuries. Jurevicius stepped into the starting lineup, and Seattle won 11 games in a row.
“He was great for us,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said on Wednesday. “I didn’t want Joe to leave, that’s for sure.”
Because Jurevicius had only signed a one-year contract, he became a free agent after the 2005 season. The Ohio native signed with Cleveland because he wanted to be closer to home.
The Browns have been pleased with his production and leadership over the past season and a half.
“He’s always been a steady and consistent catcher of the football,” Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel said of Jurevicius, who has 20 receptions as a starter for the Browns this season. “A lot of people like to say he’s a professional.”
No changes on line
After toying with different combinations along the offensive line, Holmgren said Friday that he’s likely to stick with the same five starters. He added that Floyd Womack might see some playing time at one or both guard spots during the course of Sunday’s game.
Earlier this week, Holmgren said that he wanted to look at other linemen to help spark the team’s docile running attack. Womack saw snaps at both right and left guard, where he filled in for starters Rob Sims and Chris Gray, respectively.
In the end, Holmgren decided to stick with Sims and Gray in the starting lineup.
“I thought our whole offensive line had a good week at practice,” Holmgren said.
He added that his earlier statements about making changes weren’t just a motivational tactic.
“I don’t have any slick, ulterior motives when I do something like that,” he said. “It’s just trying to fix something, look at something else that’ll help us get going. If it has an effect on the players, good. But the bottom line is that we have to get the running game going.”
Health update
Wide receiver Deion Branch ran sprints outside of the practice bubble and he was scheduled to make the trip to Cleveland, but it’s still unknown whether he will be available to play.
Branch is listed as questionable because of a sprained foot, and Holmgren said it will be a game-day decision.
Tight end Marcus Pollard (knee) and offensive lineman Ray Willis (knee) are the only Seahawks who have been ruled out of Sunday’s game.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is expected to start despite suffering a strained oblique muscle in the last game.