Despite detour, Stevens likely to face Hawks

KIRKLAND — Former Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens is expected to play against his old team on Sunday.

But Stevens, who was signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay in April after the Seahawks chose not to retain him, missed practice Wednesday to appear in an Arizona courtroom and answer drunk-driving charges stemming from an arrest in March.

Stevens is expected to miss the Buccaneers' practice today, as well.

"We expect him to play," Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said. "He's a guy that we have a lot of respect for and has really done some good things here in Tampa."

Stevens was second on the team in receiving during the exhibition season, with nine catches for 111 yards. He caught seven passes for 100 yards in the exhibition finale last week.

Stevens is the third tight end on the Bucs' depth chart.

"We think he's a very talented young man and as he improves ... he'll see more and more time," Gruden said.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said he'll say hello to Stevens on Sunday if Stevens makes the trip.

"I thought the young man had a lot of ability, and at the risk of shocking everybody, I thought he was making great strides on and off the field," said Holmgren, who drafted the former University of Washington star in the first round in 2002.

Holmgren said he is rooting for Stevens to turn things around. Just not this weekend.

"I've had players in the course of my career that got jammed up in one way or another," Holmgren said, "but down deep I thought they were good guys, and you hope they grow out of some of their immaturity and go on to lead really good, productive lives."

Who starts?

There's still no decision on whether Nate Burleson or D.J. Hackett will start the season at split end. It will come down to who has the better week of practice, Holmgren said.

As for the right defensive end spot, the team hasn't publicly committed to either Darryl Tapp or Bryce Fisher. But indications are that Tapp will open the season as the starter.

"What I have to see from Tapp is the consistency from a young player," Holmgren said. "We know he's quick. We know he can rush the passer. He's got to be good against the run. Fish is probably the other way. In the preseason, I felt Bryce, and ... all of a sudden it's a preseason game, and he didn't show so well in the game. I know he's a better player than that. I've seen him do it."

Fisher and Tapp split starts during the exhibition season.

"It has been frustrating a little bit, moving around a little bit and then not starting," Fisher said. "[Teammate] Brian Russell told me, 'Pride's a hard pill to swallow, but it will go down.' Other than that, I'm just looking forward to the season."

Captain's log

The Seahawks voted on captains, and Holmgren announced them Wednesday: on offense, fullback Mack Strong and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck; on defense, linebacker Lofa Tatupu and safety Deon Grant; and on special teams, kicker Josh Brown and linebacker Niko Koutouvides, who are, like Grant, first-time captains.

"It really is an honor to have your teammates voting that in," Hasselbeck said. "I don't take that lightly."

Notes

• The only Seahawk not to practice Wednesday was WR Ben Obomanu, who has a hamstring injury.

• For Tampa Bay, starting DE Patrick Chukwurah will not play Sunday because of a knee injury. Rookie Gaines Adams, the fourth overall pick of the draft, will begin his pro career working against Seahawks star left tackle Walter Jones. "He blocks the sun out, man," Gruden said of Jones.

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