Seattle’s Hasselbeck still not ready

October 30, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

The Seahawks’ quarterback will miss his fourth straight game on Sunday.

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck raised his right arm and completed his throwing motion.

The Seahawks only wish he’d done it on the practice field.

Hasselbeck will miss his fourth consecutive game because his hyperextended right knee is still weak, yet coach Mike Holmgren said he sees “light at the end of the tunnel.”

Holmgren announced Wednesday that backup Seneca Wallace will make his third consecutive start Sunday when Seattle (2-5) plays host to Philadelphia (4-3).

“We don’t know how long he’s going to have [to play],” Holmgren said. “He’s our quarterback right now.”

This week, Dr. Robert Watkins, a noted back surgeon in Los Angeles, said a bulging disk in Hasselbeck’s back is still affecting a nerve and weakening his knee. The three-time Pro Bowler will have to make at least a third trip to Watkins for more tests before he can return.

Hasselbeck was glad to find out Monday that he doesn’t need surgery. Now that he’s 33 — his birthday was last month — questions loom on whether the injury is chronic and if he’ll play again this season.

“As far as I can tell he’s making progress. His leg is a little stronger. So to me there was some light at the end of the tunnel there,” Holmgren said. “Hopefully, with all the stuff he’s doing, we can get him back on the field at some point. But, again, that will be on a week-to-week basis.”

The team did not permit Hasselbeck to talk publicly because he did not practice.

On his weekly radio show Tuesday, he said he failed strength tests in Los Angeles because he was unable to walk on his heels. Instead of pain in his back or knee he said there is just a “dead leg” feeling.

“Because of the disk issue in my back, that nerve is shutting off the muscles that are supposed to work in your leg,” he told KIRO.

He plans to keep working on strength and conditioning and is confident he’ll get better.

“Most of it is just frustration, mental and trying to stay positive, and just realizing, hey, it’s going to be all right,” he said. “There are far worse things.”

For now, the mothballed Wallace will lead the Seahawks against a wildly blitzing Eagles defense that can make even proven starters skittish.

Wallace drastically improved last week while leading the Seahawks to their first win in five weeks at San Francisco. He completed 12 of 23 passes for just 73 yards in his first start since 2006 against Tampa Bay on Oct. 19.

“I felt like I made some jumps from before,” the six-year veteran said. “Just my confidence level as far as maybe my leg goes. You get another week under your belt of practicing and timing with the receivers and knowing what Mike is looking for on certain things.”