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| (AP) |
The Seahawks signed Tarvaris Jackson shortly after the lockout and head coach Pete Carroll has been one of his staunchest defenders in the weeks and months since. And after a slow start, the team and its QB have played better in recent games.
Jackson was 25 of 38 for 319 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs in a loss to the Falcons in Week 4, and Sunday against the Giants, Jackson completed 15 for 22 passes for 166 yards, including a touchdown and a pick, before he suffered a third-quarter chest injury. He didn't return and backup Charlie Whitehurst assumed the role of game manager perfectly as the Seahawks upset the Giants in the Meadowlands.
On Monday, Jackson was diagnosed with a strained pectoral muscle, though Carroll was uncertain how long the injury would keep his starter sidelined.
"He did rehab today," Carroll said, according to CBSSports.com Rapid Reporter John Boyle. "He felt better today than he did yesterday, but we're not going to know for a while (how long he will be out). We won't have him throw the ball for a little bit."
Whenever Jackson returns, it appears he'll keep his place atop the depth chart. Seattle Times' Danny O'Neil characterized Whitehurst's performance against the Giants nicely Sunday night.
"[He] was more than adequate, but something less than sensational. For anyone already convinced he would be an improvement over Jackson, the performance was validation that Seattle is starting the wrong quarterback. Whitehurst completed 11 of 19 passes for 149 yards and had no turnovers. But on a closer look, it appears Whitehurst wasn't quite as comfortable pushing the tempo as Jackson, and his touchdown throw didn't have a very high degree of difficulty. Baldwin was, after all, entirely uncovered on a play when defensive end Osi Umenyiora was offside."
Carroll, it seems, if of a similar mindset. “There's some talk about, 'Does that make a controversy?'" he said. "Well is it controversial if you have two quarterbacks who can play. I think it's great that we do.” As for his thoughts on Whitehurst's performance, Carroll added "I don't think Charlie did anything phenomenal [against the Giants]. I thought he did what he does."
And in the NFC West, Jackson and/or Whitehurst "doing what they do" could be enough.
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