Hasselbeck out

SEATTLE – Matt Hasselbeck will again be watching from the sideline. Deion Branch is likely to join him.

The Seahawks’ starting quarterback will not play Sunday when Seattle travels to San Francisco. Hasselbeck still has not reached the required benchmarks as part of his recovery from a bulging disk in his back causing weakening in his right knee.

Backup Seneca Wallace will get his second consecutive start for the Seahawks (1-5), ending the slim hopes coach Mike Holmgren had of getting Hasselbeck back for this week.

“There is a series of things, exercises, that he has to go through every week and they are measurables, and if he doesn’t meet certain criteria then they’re just not going to clear him,” Holmgren said of Hasselbeck after Friday’s practice.

Hasselbeck hyperextended his knee early in Seattle’s 44-6 loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 5 and played most of the game, but he hasn’t seen the practice or playing field since. Last Sunday against Tampa Bay, Wallace became Seattle’s third starting quarterback in as many weeks in the Seahawks’ 20-10 loss, their third consecutive setback. Again the Seahawks’ passing game faltered as Wallace completed 12 of 23 passes for 73 yards and compiled a passer rating of 55.2.

Hasselbeck went through a series of tests on Wednesday in Seattle’s indoor practice facility. Holmgren thought his quarterback looked OK, but doctors would not clear Hasselbeck to begin practicing this week.

Holmgren said to his knowledge Hasselbeck hasn’t endured any setbacks in his rehab, and still remains “pretty confident” the veteran quarterback will return this season.

“But right now for anybody it’s a little bit of guesswork,” Holmgren said. “The leg has to respond and the strength has to respond.”

Branch missed the previous two games with a bruised heel after getting hurt against the Giants in his first game back from major reconstructive knee surgery in the off-season. The swelling and bruising in Branch’s heal have gone down, but the foot is still sore.

Despite not practicing all week, Branch was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Holmgren was unhappy with Wallace’s performance last week, on Monday saying that Charlie Frye might start against the 49ers. Holmgren settled on Wallace after the two met earlier in the week.

“I feel a little better because you get another week under your belt. It was a little difficult last week, but now you get another week to get your rhythm down with all the guys,” Wallace said. “It’s a little better.”