Notebook | Bobby Engram returns, brightens outlook

RENTON — All was well in Seahawk Land on Wednesday. The sun was out. The entire team practiced, even though a few are coming back from injuries. And Bobby Engram is smiling and feeling good about being one of those returning players.

Engram's return from a cracked right shoulder bone is critical because of the wide receiver's experience and because he has long been quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's most trusted target.

"The shoulder rehab was tough," Engram said. "That's behind us now. I just look forward to continuing to get better and getting back on the field and helping us win some games."

Coach Mike Holmgren called Engram, who was hurt in the first quarter of the exhibition opener at Minnesota on Aug. 8, "the soul of the team." Engram made 94 catches for 1,147 yards last season, both career highs, but fell victim to the injury bug that has hit five other Seahawks receivers since January.

"The quarterback really has a lot of confidence in Bobby and knows where he's going to be," Holmgren said. "He's an upbeat guy in the locker room, he's a team leader. For all the normal reasons, you're also happy he's back."

How much Engram will play depends on what he shows in practice. His return coincided with that of fellow receiver Deion Branch, and Koren Robinson is practicing on a limited basis after a knee injury two weeks ago. The Seahawks have a glut of receivers — seven on the roster — and a roster move figures to be made to reduce that number.

Engram, however, is going to get the ball thrown his way when he's in the game. The Seahawks play the New York Giants in New Jersey on Sunday.

"To think it's going to be 'Star Wars' out there, that's probably not the way it works," Holmgren cautioned. "Bless their hearts, they're coming back, they've been hurt, and it's nice to have them back. ... It will take them awhile to get in form. But it's a much better situation than it was three weeks ago."

Engram said he felt no rust in practice Wednesday, comparing getting back on the field to riding a bike.

"I love this," he said. "That's why I'm playing 13 years later."

He took a positive approach toward his situation.

"I could be in there and I could be moping and be negative about it," Engram said. "But I just tried to use it to watch more film and help the guys out, stay in the locker room and just be fun, be a good teammate."

On the field, Engram often draws a double-team because of his knack for making plays out of the slot. He had hoped before the season that his value to the team would be appreciated in the form of a renegotiated contract, and was asked if he feels more appreciated because the Seahawks' passing offense is down.

"You would hope that you would be appreciated before something like that has to take place," he said.

Notes

• Running back Maurice Morris, who sprained a knee in the opener at Buffalo and hasn't played since, was back at practice in a limited role.

Morris didn't practice Monday but did some team drills Wednesday.

"We're just trying to gauge it and see where we're at," said Morris. "It's getting better. It's definitely not mental. We just want to make sure that when I go out there that it's ready to go and that I feel comfortable with it."

Holmgren said Morris is the "farthest away" of the returning players from playing Sunday.

• Holmgren said that he typically has five receivers active for a game and has yet to decide who they will be. One in the mix is Michael Bumpus, who also has been returning punts. "Seneca [Wallace] could return punts. Engram could return punts," Holmgren said. "We just have to see how we're going to do that."

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