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NFC Semifinals vs. Seattle
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KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) -- Just as the Seahawks got finally got all of their receivers back and healthy, D.J. Hackett is hurt again.

Seattle's oft-injured starting receiver missed all but the stretching portion of practice Thursday, the team's final one before it was to leave for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against Green Bay. Hackett aggravated a sprained right ankle that he's had for most of the season by practicing on Wednesday. Four days earlier, he had six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Washington in the wild-card game,

"His ankle is a little bit sore. We rested it today," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "That will be a game-time decision.

"Instead of making it a little worse (Thursday) I think I'd rather have him there on Saturday."

Hackett's hurt comes one day after fellow starter Deion Branch returned for the first time since Dec. 26. The former Super Bowl MVP, one of Seattle's most experienced playoff performers, practiced again Thursday and had precautionary ice on his strained right calf as he walked off the field after the workout.

When asked to confirm Branch's proclamation that he would play against the Packers, Holmgren said, "Looks like it, yeah."

Holmgren said All-Pro defensive end Patrick Kerney will start Saturday. Kerney, who was second in the NFL with 14 1/2 sacks this season, practiced for the first time this week after what he called "just rest" and the Seahawks called a left knee issue on their injury report.

Seattle has had its full corps of receivers for just 2 1/2 games this season -- and not since a win at St. Louis seven weeks ago. Yet Matt Hasselbeck set team record for yards (3,966), completions (352) and attempts (562) this season.

Hasselbeck values the 6-foot-2 Hackett for his speed and size. Hackett severely sprained the ankle on his only catch of the season opener, when his foot got snagged in his home field's turf while he was being tackled.

He missed the next six games, returned with 27 catches and three touchdowns in four games, then was out four more weeks with the same injury. He returned for the regular-season finale two weeks ago.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)