Originally published Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Seahawks training camp | Day 26 highlights

Missing in action: WR Deion Branch, LS Tyler Schmitt, LB Will Herring, OT William Robinson, OT Sean Locklear, OT Samuel Gutekunst, DT Red...

Missing in action: WR Deion Branch, LS Tyler Schmitt, LB Will Herring, OT William Robinson, OT Sean Locklear, OT Samuel Gutekunst, DT Red Bryant, QB Seneca Wallace, WR Bobby Engram, DE Chris Cooper and DT Larry Tripplett are all out and not practicing because of injuries. QB Matt Hasselbeck and TE Jeb Putzier started the morning practice but both left with back pain. In the afternoon, OT Ray Willis and OG Mike Wahle sat out, leaving the Seahawks with only two tackles for practice (Floyd Womack and Kyle Williams.

Punt watch: Ryan Plackemeier hit higher and overall better punts during the morning practice than his competition, Reggie Hodges. Plackemeier is working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle suffered before camp and has been punting in practice lately, but has yet to play in a game. That figures to change Monday, especially with Plackemeier heading back to the greater San Diego area where he's from.

Chip shots: Seahawks DB Jordan Babineaux and K Olindo Mare squared off against PGA Champions Tour golfer Tim Simpson in a closest-to-the-pin contest with a sand wedge after the morning practice. After the three each took three practice shots and three "for real" shots, Babineaux's best shot was measured to be closest to the flag. It was 4 feet, 7 inches away, while Simpson's best was 5 feet away and Mare's 6 feet, 5 inches. "I'm blaming it on the clubs," Simpson said, then playfully lamented on Babineaux and Mare. "They took advantage. I'm 52. I play on the senior tour." Babineaux played golf in high school in Texas, and was a last-minute replacement for S Brian Russell. He called golf a "second passion."

Veiled shot: Simpson, a Georgia Bulldogs fan, was happy to see former UGA kicker Brandon Coutu with the Seahawks. He also admitted he's an Atlanta Falcons fan and misses current Seahawks DE Patrick Kerney. "I've always followed the Seahawks, even though I'm a native Georgian. I don't know why," Simpson said. "Maybe it's because we don't have a team in Atlanta."

José Miguel Romero

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