More than exhibition

SEATTLE – Tonight the Seahawks can ease some fears. They can calm some jittery nerves.

Tonight, in a preseason game that means almost nothing in terms of the final score, the Seahawks can start to show their fans that things might not be as bad as they seem after some bad news this week.

Walter Jones won’t be on the field for tonight’s 7:30 game against the Broncos, nor will Marcus Trufant. More important, however, is the fact that the team’s left tackle and best cornerback could be out when the season starts for real next month. Seahawks coach Jim Mora announced this week that Jones needed another surgery on his left knee, which was performed Thursday. He also said that Trufant has a “disc issue” in his back, and indicated that he could remain on the physically unable to perform list when the season starts.

After seeing last season destroyed by injuries, Seahawks fans are understandably shaken by that news, which is why this preseason game has meaning even when the end result is meaningless

Fans want to see an offensive line minus Walter Jones that can still generate a rush and protect Matt Hasselbeck. They want to see Sean Locklear, Jones’ replacement, show he can play one of the most important positions in football. They need to believe that, if necessary, Josh Wilson can hold down a cornerback spot in Trufant’s absence.

“There’s no panic,” Mora said earlier this week after talking about Jones’ knee problems and Trufant’s injured back. “Sure, we’d like to have them (for the opener) but if we don’t, we don’t. We have to move on. That’s the type of attitude you want your football team to have. We certainly respect those guys, we think they’re great players, we know they make a better football team, and they have been great Seahawks. If they are there, great. If not, step up and play. That’s how we’ve got to look at it.”

Step up and play. That’s what, more than just about anyone tonight, the offensive linemen and corners need to do to calm the nerves of the fans.

Locklear has practiced plenty at left tackle but admits that the position is harder than his usual spot at right tackle.

“It’s the hardest position on the line, that’s why left tackles get paid the big bucks,” he said. “So there’s some pressure there, but you’ve got to be ready to come out and perform.”

When Jones was able to practice, the Seahawks looked at using Locklear at right guard, but with Locklear playing Jones’ position, Mansfield Wrotto or Max Unger are going to have to step up and solidify that spot. Throughout camp, in large part because of Jones’ absence, the Seahawks have had a hard time solidifying a starting five on the line.

That’s not a problem in the eyes of the ever-optimistic Mora, however.

“I prefer to say that it helps us,” he said. “Because Sean Locklear is getting a chance to play left tackle. At some point Walt is going to move on and wait his turn to go into the Hall of Fame and Sean’s going to be the left tackle. So he’s getting a chance to play left tackle. It’s given us a chance to look at Unger more. Our original plan was to get Sean some work at right guard. Because Walt’s not here, Sean’s playing left, so Max is playing right guard. He’s getting more snaps there. And then of course Ray (Willis) is getting a majority of the snaps at right tackle. In the long run it’s going to help us. At least that’s how I want to look at it.”

It’s how a coach has to look at it.

Hasselbeck, who counts on the left tackle to keep him safe, is also putting on a confident face when it comes to the line.

“Our pass protection in practice has been very, very good,” he said. “We do a lot of blitz drills, we do a lot of situations that puts those guys in a tough bind and they have been working hard and doing a good job. Our running backs have been working hard and doing a good job. So I don’t think its something that we have actually been talking about.”

And in a game in which the starters are expected to play most of the first half, that half will be important for Josh Wilson and the secondary.

Wilson seemed to be out of a starting job when the team signed Ken Lucas in the offseason, but until Trufant is back, Wilson will be a starter.

That also means more playing time for Kelly Jennings, who will see the field a lot in nickel situations. If Wilson, Lucas and Jennings can have a strong showing tonight, it can help ease the fears of potentially starting the season without a Pro Bowl corner.