Engram's injury leaves Seahawks vulnerable

The Seahawks have been the class of a woeful NFC West for the past several years, but Seattle's hopes of another division title took a big hit with the loss of WR Bobby Engram for 6-8 weeks with a fractured shoulder.

Engram set a franchise record with 94 receptions last year, and was slated to start opposite Nate Burleson with Deion Branch still recovering from knee surgery. The team has held out hope that Branch will be available by the season opener, but sometime in October is a more realistic timetable.

Youngsters Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent and Logan Payne were already competing for significant snaps. Now it appears one will be starting on the outside in Week 1 with another working in the slot. That's a significant amount of inexperience on an offense that relies so heavily on its passing game.

Don't be surprised if pass-happy coach Mike Holmgren leans much more on RBs Julius Jones and Mo Morris to try to get the Seahawks through the first month of the season.

Seahawks Quietly Loading Up

With a bevy of injuries to key players and a simmering story with the Patriots accused of spying with a cameraman to steal the Jets' signs dominating the news over opening weekend, no one outside of the Northwest is paying attention to the Seahawks.

Seattle didn't make many highlight reels with its ho-hum 20-6 victory over Tampa Bay. And national news won't be dominated by two moves general manager Tim Ruskell made involving "undisclosed draft picks" Tuesday, although they could prove to be key for a veteran team flying under the radar following an injury-marred 2006.

After signing defensive end Patrick Kerney in free agency and acquiring pass rusher Jason Babin the week leading up to the season, Bryce Fisher became expendable enough to ship to Tennessee for an undisclosed draft pick.

The bigger splash came with Ruskell prying -- or freeing, depending on your view -- quarterback Charlie Frye away from the Browns for an undisclosed draft pick.

A bust with the Browns, Frye lands in a great situation with the Seahawks. There is no pressure to perform immediately as he will likely be the No. 3 quarterback behind Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace. Meanwhile, Frye gets to tutor under Hasselbeck and coach Mike Holmgren, one of the league's great quarterback gurus.

Frye has the talent to be an NFL quarterback, but never could live up to expectations in Cleveland with a subpar supporting cast.

Can he be the heir apparent to Hasselbeck in Seattle? Too early to tell. But for now he serves as an important insurance policy. With wide receiver D.J. Hackett lost for at least a few games to a sprained ankle, Holmgren wants the freedom to use Wallace in some receiver packages, but couldn't do it until the team signed a legitimate veteran quarterback who could play should Hasselbeck and Wallace get hurt.