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Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.

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October 3, 2008 11:38 AM

Deion Branch to start at flanker, Morris and Robinson questionable

The Seahawks finished their final practice before leaving for New Jersey on Friday afternoon. José Miguel Romero watched the practice and covered coach Mike Holmgren's press conference.

Deion Branch will start, Holmgren said in that briefing while Koren Robinson and Maurice Morris are questionable. Robinson did not practice on Friday, instead running by himself on the side. Morris was limited in practice.

Holmgren said a final decision on their availability won't be made until this weekend.

"That will go down to the wire," Holmgren said.

As for Branch and Bobby Engram, both of whom will play for the first time this season.

"They really did have a good week," Holmgren said. "Now how much they play in the football game, we have to see. They'll be honest about it. They'll let us know. They'll be excited to play again. They'll probably be gasping again just from being out there again ... We have to be smart with how they do it."

Holmgren also addressed Robinson's situation. Robinson practiced on Wednesday, but then was held out the past two weeks. He was inactive for Seattle's previous game. The issue is a sore knee.

"The best I can read it is that if in my haste to push him out there, in our need to push him out there, that we really make a very minor injury a big injury," Holmgren said. "I don't want to do that. And now that we have some players, our receiver situation is better, the pile is bigger, I can afford to do this this way if I don't play him. Just rest him and let him really heal up. It's not a bad injury, but it's really preventing him from really cutting it loose and he has to do that at that position."

Giants defensive end Jerome McDougle was limited in practice, but is listed as probable for the game.

Practice report

SEATTLE

WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY

Out


Did not practice	Did not practice
WR Koren Robinson (knee)

Limited in practice	Limited in practice	Questionable
WR Koren Robinson (knee)		WR Koren Robinson (knee)
RB Maurice Morris (knee)	RB Maurice Morris (knee)	RB Maurice Morris (knee)

NEW YORK GIANTS

WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY

Out	Out
WR Plaxico Burress (suspended)	WR Plaxico Burress (suspended)

Did not practice
WR Mario Manningham (illness)

Limited in practice	Limited in practice	Probable
DE Jerome McDougle (knee)	DE Jerome McDougle (knee)	DE Jerome McDougle (knee)