Inaction Jackson: Hawks' top WR still sidelined

He's an NFL wide receiver, a position played by some of the NFL's loudest personalities.

But Darrell Jackson has been the silent type the past year, declining most interview requests, and his recovery from knee surgery has quietly hung in the background of the Seahawks' exhibition season.

Coach Mike Holmgren plans to have Jackson practice today. That was also the hope two weeks ago until the schedule was pushed back. With the season opener six days away and Jackson coming off his second knee surgery in a year, the question of how seamless his transition back to the field will be has to be answered.

"Well, that's the question for the ages, I think," Holmgren said after Thursday's exhibition finale.

He was exaggerating, but only a little bit.

Two of the three tight ends on Seattle's regular-season roster were injured in August. Wide receiver Nate Burleson is new to the team. Maurice Mann was on Seattle's practice squad last season. Add Jackson's status to the list of things to ponder.

"I think about it a lot, but I have no say in that and I have no control over that," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "I know Darrell. He wants to play and catch a lot of passes for this team and be the guy that he has been. Hopefully, that translates to he's planning on coming back for the regular season, but I'm not a doctor and I'm not Darrell, so I don't know."

When Terrell Owens practiced it made news. When he didn't practice it was even bigger news. There is no such drama attached to Jackson's injury. Holmgren has clearly stated he's not frustrated by a return that's been a little slower than expected.

But the reality of his absence is a legitimate question. He hasn't practiced with the team since February. He wasn't in the locker room after Thursday's exhibition finale, so there wasn't a chance to ask him questions.

He was running last week, the strength of his leg is increasing and there's no doubt about the injury itself. The team called it a bone bruise last October, but the injury was diagnosed as a damaged meniscus when Jackson sought a second opinion. And no one will think twice about the last month if he goes out and catches six passes, including the game-winning touchdown, like he did in Tennessee the last time he returned from knee surgery. But here, six days before the regular-season opener, Jackson's status is a focal point.

"My plan is he will practice on Monday, and we will ease him back into things," Holmgren said. "It's still a medical call, at this point, but my hope is he will practice in the week and play against Detroit."

Seattle's reported interest in the Patriots' Deion Branch was projected into a commentary on Jackson's health. That's a stretch. Branch would have a learning curve in Holmgren's offense, and his asking price for a new contract — reportedly six years at more than $35 million — would make him more part of a long-range plan than a short-term fix. Besides, all indications are New England isn't interested in trading Branch.

Rushing Jackson back is the last thing the team wants to do after seeing Jerramy Stevens reinjure his knee in his first week back at practice after undergoing a similar procedure.

"We would be making a mistake if we thought he could come in and play a whole game," Holmgren said of Jackson.

Jackson's absence and injuries to the team's top two tight ends left Hasselbeck with a shortage of familiar targets.

"It has been tough, but I think if I learned anything from last year, it's 'So what?' " Hasselbeck said. "You've got to play with the guys that are out there."

Jackson and Bobby Engram were both injured in Seattle's overtime loss to Washington last season on Oct. 2. But the next week, Joe Jurevicius caught nine passes for 137 yards and a TD in St. Louis, and Seattle's franchise-record 11-game winning streak began.

Engram was out three games with broken ribs and Jackson missed nine, undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his knee. But when Williams did come back in December, he caught six passes against the Titans, including one for a touchdown to complete Seattle's comeback as Hasselbeck quickly reintegrated Jackson into the offense.

The return was no surprise to Engram.

"Jack is Jack," Engram said last season.

And Jack was back.

"If you've been in this game for [a certain] amount of years like he has, like I have, you're a gamer," Engram said. "Then you come back and you're in shape — like I know he is — you just come back and get into the flow.

"It might take you one game, but it's like riding a bike; you don't forget how to do it."

That still leaves the question of when Jackson will really be rolling.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com