Seahawks' Hasselbeck out at least 3 games with knee sprain

KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will miss at least three weeks with a strained ligament in his right knee. <br/><br/>Coach Mike Holmgren says an MRI showed the Pro Bowl

Tuesday, October 24th 2006, 5:45 am

By: News On 6

KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will miss at least three weeks with a strained ligament in his right knee.

Coach Mike Holmgren says an MRI showed the Pro Bowl quarterback strained the medial collateral ligament when a Minnesota pass rusher rolled into him during Sunday's loss to the Vikings.

He will return no sooner than the November 19th game at San Francisco.

Hasselbeck says he doesn't think Minnesota linebacker EJ Henderson intended to hurt him badly, but could have and should have avoided rolling into his lower right leg while he came off a block.

Henderson said after the game that it was an accident. The play was not penalized.

Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, a fourth year veteran, will make his first NFL start on Sunday at Kansas City. The Seahawks are already without league MVP Shaun Alexander, who remains out indefinitely with a broken foot.

Holmgren says the Seahawks are considering signing a veteran, free agent quarterback to back up Wallace until Hasselbeck returns.

Seattle has a 4-2 record going into the game against the 3-3 Chiefs.