Seattle receives positive news on top QB

RENTON, Wash. – Matt Hasselbeck is coming back – just not yet.

The Seattle Seahawks expect their indispensable quarterback to return against first-place Arizona on Nov. 16. Until then, Hasselbeck will miss his fifth consecutive game on Sunday at Miami while he slowly gets back into playing shape.

“Right now, that’s kind of my plan,” coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday. “He has to do some things this week.”

Backup Seneca Wallace will make his fourth consecutive start against the Dolphins.

Holmgren said his three-time Pro Bowl passer has finally passed the strength tests doctors prescribed for his hyperextended right knee. That will allow him back on the practice field as the scout-team quarterback this week.

Holmgren has been getting false hopes all season for the return of many injured starters who ultimately remained out.

He originally thought Hasselbeck had nothing more than a sore back when it first pained him in August and caused him to miss most of the preseason.

Seattle (2-6) has lost three of the four games Hasselbeck has missed since he hurt his knee on Oct. 5 at the New York Giants.

The absences of defensive end Patrick Kerney, star linebacker Lofa Tatupu and fullback Leonard Weaver during last weekend’s loss against Philadelphia left the Seahawks with 14 players who have started a game this season and also have missed at least one game with injury.

Holmgren said surgery this week on Kerney’s shoulder found no major structural damage. The team is expecting their leading pass rusher to play again this season, but Holmgren does not yet know when.

Tatupu (groin) and Weaver (foot) are due back to practice this week. Both are expected to play at Miami.

Not so for wide receiver Deion Branch. He was to get extensive on-field tests of his bruised heel on Wednesday.