Hawks Notebook | A new dad, Hackett faces some new duties

KIRKLAND — D.J. Hackett was back after missing the past two days of practice, and it hardly seemed like he missed a beat.

The Seahawks wide receiver made some nice catches Thursday in practice, but no one could have faulted him for being a bit fatigued.

Hackett became a father for the first time Tuesday night, when his wife Alex gave birth to the couple's son, Andre James.

"It's a wonderful gift from God," Hackett said. "That first night, every little whimper, you're looking up and stuff. So you kind of have to get used to it."

Hackett hasn't slept much, and it was difficult for him to leave his family and return to training camp.

Teammates with kids, including Nate Burleson, had some fatherly advice for Hackett, 26.

"He can't go home and use football as an excuse," Burleson said with a grin. "He's got to help out. Change some diapers, cook some meals, you know, he's got to do a little bit extra because the wife, she's not going to have that. You can't use football as a crutch anymore. You have to go home and do some dirty work."

Official business

A crew of NFL officials arrived for practice Thursday to discuss rule changes with the Seahawks, and also made a few calls during practices.

But coach Mike Holmgren was particularly glad to have the officials there so they could interact with the players on a more informal level, as opposed to game day, and instruct players on what calls would be made on certain plays.

One point of emphasis from the officials is spiking or spinning the ball in celebration of a catch that isn't for a touchdown. This season, such an emphatic gesture will be a penalty.

Just in case

It was interesting to see a number of starters or projected starters out on the field Wednesday afternoon for special-teams practice with coach Bruce DeHaven. Typically, or at least under previous special-teams coaches, front-line players were allowed to skip the session.

But there were linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson, cornerbacks Kelly Jennings and Marcus Trufant and safety Brian Russell taking part in the drills.

What brought them out?

"In case guys get nicked up, we go in there in case there's a fall off," Peterson said. "So we know what's going on and so it just won't be a blur when you get out there."

Kirkland love

Tatupu, for one, is happy that training camp is in Kirkland this year. He's not alone.

"No disrespect to Cheney, but this is lovely," Tatupu said. "You don't have those long walks from the cafeteria back to your room and then up the hill. It's all uphill over there. We love all you in Cheney, but right now, we're happy being home in Kirkland."

The players' dorms at Northwest University are steps away from the dining hall where everyone at camp takes their meals.

Notes

• Tickets for the Saturday scrimmage at 5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium are available in advance through www.seahawks.com. There will be a limited number of walk-up tickets available on a cash-only basis.

• FB David Kirtman has elected to have surgery on his broken right hand, which he suffered Wednesday in practice. Kirtman, a Mercer Island native and former fifth-round draft choice, might miss only a week to 10 days, Holmgren said.

• TE Will Heller missed the afternoon practice with an ankle injury and is day to day.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com