Seahawks
Notebook: Sore shoulder sidelines Lewis for year

By José Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES Outside linebacker D.D. Lewis had surgery earlier in the offseason on his left shoulder, then aggravated the injury in early training-camp practices.

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KIRKLAND — D.D. Lewis tried to practice with a sore shoulder.

He tried to hide the pain, but the winces and constant shoulder rubbing gave it away. So did the lack of confidence in his voice when asked how he felt.

Ultimately, the pain in his surgically repaired left shoulder was too much to overcome, and Lewis was placed on injured reserve yesterday. The designation means the reserve outside linebacker is out for the season.

Lewis, 25, will have corrective surgery at noon tomorrow at the Seattle Surgery Center. Seahawks team doctors will perform the procedure.

The loss of Lewis might not have hurt as much if Chad Brown had not been lost for eight weeks with a broken fibula. Lewis, an undrafted free agent in 2002 who battled his way onto the roster, was Brown's backup and had also been No. 2 on the depth chart behind the team's other starting outside linebacker, Anthony Simmons.

With Lewis unavailable, the Seahawks are shorthanded at a critical position.

"That was too bad," coach Mike Holmgren said. "But he's a good young guy and we'll fix it and we'll have him next year."

Lewis had offseason surgery, performed by physicians outside of the team. Lewis looked healthy at training camp after rehabilitation and minicamps, but he revealed Sunday that he aggravated the injury during the first week of two-a-day practices. He was held out of all three exhibition games, and had to wear a harness to keep the shoulder in place.

Lewis had been a rising star, making the most of his chance to play in his first two seasons. He started five games last season in relief of Brown and Simmons and was a standout on special teams. He earned $75,335 in performance-based pay from the league as part of a clause in the NFL collective-bargaining agreement that gives players the chance to earn more.

Lewis signed a three-year contract as an exclusive-rights free agent just before training camp this summer.
 
The designation of Lewis and release of cornerback Jernaro Gilford completed the first round of roster moves the Seahawks had to make by yesterday. The Seahawks now have 76 players, including 11 NFL Europe exemptions. The team learned it had another such exemption yesterday.

The Seahawks must trim their roster to 53 by Sunday, but they can establish a nine-man practice squad the following day.

Hannam time

Ryan Hannam isn't exactly in the best situation for young tight end — third on the depth chart, with the top two expected to be big parts of the offense this season.

But the third-year pro has two things going for him: He has made it back to the field after two knee injuries last year, the second of which ended his season on Oct. 19 and required surgery; and he has a huge vote of confidence from Holmgren.

Holmgren spoke glowingly of Hannam's blocking, ability to catch the ball and mobility — not to mention Hannam's work ethic and discipline in running routes.

"Anybody that comes back from what he had to go through, says a lot," Holmgren said. "You need people like that on your football team, at any position. I feel very comfortable in using Ryan in a game."

Hannam quietly and methodically goes about his business in practices. But there's no mistaking how happy he is to be playing again. Hannam missed more than half of training camp because he was rehabilitating his right knee.

"I approach the game as if I'm going to be playing every week, and if that situation comes up, I'll be ready to do it," Hannam said. "We have some good tight ends here, everybody knows that. When you get your opportunity, you have to go in there and do what you can."

Hannam is so highly regarded, he could be a regular contributor sooner than later. Jerramy Stevens is the future of the position for now, having earned the No. 1 spot on the depth chart over veteran Itula Mili.

Mili is hoping to get a new contract. His current one expires at the end of this season. His decision to skip the May minicamps — one of which was mandatory — might not have gone over well with management.

"As contracts come up, you never know," Holmgren said. "It really makes sense to have a really good third tight end."

Notes

• Left tackle Walter Jones is no closer to a long-term contract, his agent said yesterday, and his return date is unspecified, though it could be early next week when the Seahawks begin preparations for their first regular-season game. Jones is working out in his native Alabama, agent Roosevelt Barnes said.

• Floyd Womack is playing Jones' position and will start there tomorrow night vs. Minnesota.

• Mill Creek native Brett McClure, a team silver medalist in men's gymnastics, and Bremerton's Tara and Dana Kirk are among a group of Northwest Olympians who will raise the 12th man flag before the game.