Recap: Seattle Seahawks Clocked By St. Louis Rams, 20-3

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Sam Bradford passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns, as the St. Louis Rams snapped a 10-game losing skid to the Seattle Seahawks with a 20-3 win at the Edward Jones Dome.

Bradford completed 23-of-41 throws with a pick while Brandon Gibson and Kenneth Darby each had a touchdown grab for the Rams (2-2), who defeated Washington last Sunday. St. Louis' last win over the Seahawks came on November 14, 2004. The Rams won consecutive games for the first time since October 12-19, 2008 -- and at home for the first time since 2006.

"I think it's a huge win for us, especially coming off last week, a win versus Washington," Bradford said. "I think everyone kind of wanted to see if we could validate that and see if we could put two together or if that was just a fluke that we happened to catch them on an off-night. So to come out here and play the way we did and get a win against a divisional opponent and move to 2-2, I think it's huge."

Steven Jackson, who was a game-time decision with a groin injury, got the start and rushed for 70 yards on 22 carries. Josh Brown kicked a pair of field goals in the victory.

Matt Hasselbeck passed for 191 yards on 20-of-36 efficiency with an interception and Justin Forsett rushed 19 times for 65 yards for Seattle (2-2), which has dropped two of three since opening the season with a victory over San Francisco. Olindo Mare had a 22-yard field goal for the Seahawks' only points.

"We didn't play very well offensively," Hasselbeck said. "I didn't feel like I played very well. It's not acceptable. We've got to get better. We've got to get better on offense. I've got to get better. I need to own this offense a little bit more, and master it a little bit better."

St. Louis opened the scoring in the first, going 90 yards on 10 plays. Bradford quickly marched the offense to midfield, then connected with Mark Clayton for a 34-yard hookup that took it to the Seahawks' 15-yard line. After an incompletion, Bradford hit Gibson in the middle of the end zone with just under six minutes to play in the first quarter.

The Seahawks followed with their own lengthy drive, but the 81-yard march ended only in Mare's chip shot field goal early in the second quarter.

Bradley Fletcher picked off Hasselbeck and returned it to the Seattle three- yard line with nearly 4 1/2 minutes left in the second, but Bradford was intercepted in the end zone by Earl Thomas a short time later.

After St. Louis snuffed out a Seahawks' fake field goal attempt with a shade over a minute remaining, Bradford completed 4-of-6 throws to get into field goal range at the Seattle 13 and Josh Brown's 30-yard boot as time expired gave the hosts a 10-3 lead heading into the break.

The Rams tacked on another seven in the early stages of the third. Starting its own 33, St. Louis picked up a first down before Jackson's 49-yard catch- and-run moved it to the Seattle 21. Then on 3rd-and-10 Bradford dumped the ball off to Darby, who ran in for the score and a 17-3 lead.

Seattle managed just two first downs and failed to cross midfield on its next five possessions before Brown tacked on a 31-yard field goal with 2:35 left to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Seattle rookie offensive tackle Russell Okung made his NFL debut after suffering a high ankle sprain in August. Okung was the sixth overall pick in this year's draft...The Seahawks have a bye next week before visiting Chicago on October 17...St. Louis will play at Detroit next Sunday...Despite the loss, Seattle still leads the all-time series over the Rams with a 14-10 mark...Chris Clemons had two of the four sacks for the Seahawks...James Hall counter with a pair of sacks for St. Louis.

After Three Quarters, Rams Lead Seahawks 17-3

The Seahawks offense is still stuck in neutral and the Rams are taking advantage, jumping out to a 17-3 lead after three quarters.

Matt Hasselbeck and the Seattle offense can’t get anything moving so far. The Rams, on the other hand, used screens and misdirection to burn the Hawks defense repeatedly for much of the third quarter. St. Louis finally broke through and got into the endzone on a short pass that Kenneth Darby took 21 yards for the score.

Rams Lead Seahawks At Half, 10-3

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll went to the well one too many times with trick plays, leading to a fourth down stop by the Rams and allowing St. Louis kicker Josh Brown to kick a field goal just before half.

The Seahawks used some trickeration on their last drive of the half, using Michael Robinson on a halfback pass for a big gain. With Olindo Mare lined up for a 51 yard field goal, the Hawks again called a trick play, faking the field goal. Punter John Ryan couldn’t get the edge and was stopped short, giving the Rams the ball back.

Sam Bradford drove the field, setting up former Seahawks kicker Josh Brown. Brown easily hit the 30-yard field goal, sending the Rams into halftime with plenty of momentum.

At the half, the Rams lead the Seahawks 10-7.

Russell Okung Re-Injures Ankle, Questionable To Return

Russell Okung re-injured his ankle in the second quarter of the Seahawks game against the Rams. The injury, presumably to the same ankle he hurt in the preseason, chips away at the already thin depth on the Seahawks offensive line.

Okung’s return is questionable.

Preview: Seattle Seahawks Look For First Road Win In St. Louis

(Sports Network) - It has been nearly two years since the St. Louis Rams last posted a winning streak. Doing so this weekend could be a lot tougher if Steven Jackson isn't able to suit up against the Seattle Seahawks.

Coming off their first home win since the 2008 season, the Rams look to snap a 10-game slide to the Seahawks this Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

The Rams dropped their first two games of the season to push their overall losing streak to 10 games dating back to last year, but came away with a 30-16 victory over the visiting Washington Redskins last Sunday. It marked St. Louis' first win as the host since Oct. 19, 2008, snapping an NFL record-tying 14-game slide in the Gateway City.

Quarterback Sam Bradford threw for 235 yards with a touchdown as the top overall pick of the 2010 draft earned his first victory as a pro.

St. Louis was able to defeat Washington despite losing safety Oshiomogho Atogwe during the game because of a lingering quad injury. The Rams were already without their other starting safety, Craig Dahl, due to a concussion.

The Rams now seek consecutive wins for the first time since Oct. 12-19, 2008 -- and at home for the first time since 2006 -- but might have to do so without Jackson. The former Pro Bowl running back scored on a 42-yard run in the first quarter, helping the Rams build a 14-0 lead they failed to hold, but left during the second quarter due to a groin injury.

"We lose some of our best players not out there and some other guys stepped in and did a nice job," said Spagnuolo after Sunday's win. "We've got a lot of issues injury-wise. We're really banged up and it's early in the season, so we've got to overcome that."

An MRI on Monday showed that Jackson has a strain as opposed to a more serious tear, and the Rams are hopeful he can go this weekend. Jackson, listed as day-to-day, has played through pain before, as he battled through a back injury last year.

The Seahawks would prefer to see Jackson on the sidelines as they hope to avoid their first loss to the Rams since Nov. 14, 2004. Seattle picked up its second home victory in as many games this year with a 27-20 triumph over the San Diego Chargers last Sunday.

Seattle's defense forced five turnovers in the game, but it was kick returner Leon Washington who stole the show. The running back posted two return touchdowns in the game, taking the opening kick of the second half a club- record 101 yards for a score before posting the go-ahead touchdown with a 99- yard return with 6:24 left in regulation.

"It's important for us to show that we can play against a team like this," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "Leon was just magical [Sunday]."

Carroll's club is now searching for its first road win of the season after losing at Denver in Week 2 and could have some fresh bodies on the offensive line. Left tackle Russell Okung returned to practice this week along with left guard Chester Pitts, and both could make their season debuts in this game.

Okung, the sixth overall pick of the 2010 draft, suffered a high ankle sprain back on Aug. 21 and hadn't practiced since, while Pitts is recovering from knee surgery that he underwent last season while with the Houston Texans.

Sunday could also mark the debut of Seahawks wide receiver Brandon Stokley after the veteran signed with the club on Tuesday.

SERIES HISTORY

The Seahawks lead the all-time series with the Rams, 14-9, and currently own a 10-game winning streak over their NFC West rivals. Seattle was a 28-0 winner when St. Louis visited Qwest Field in Week 1 of last season, and completed the sweep with a 27-17 win at the Edward Jones Dome in Week 12. The Rams' last wins of any kind in the series came in 2004, when they swept a home-and-home with their NFC West rival and went on to defeat them at Qwest Field in an NFC First-Round Playoff.

The latter contest, a 27-20 road win for the Rams, marks the only postseason meeting between the teams all-time.

Carroll is 0-1 in his career against the Rams, with his 1998 New England Patriots team falling in St. Louis. Spagnuolo is 0-2 against Seattle as a head coach, and will be meeting Carroll for the first time head-to-head.

WHEN THE SEAHAWKS HAVE THE BALL

Washington's return game helped bail out an offense that ranks just 29th in the NFL and managed only 271 yards versus the Chargers last week. Still, Seattle is scoring an average of 24 points per game, tied for eighth-most in the league. The Seahawks could get little going on the ground against San Diego, as Justin Forsett (150 rushing yards) accumulated 17 of Seattle's 21 rush attempts and posted 63 yards. The Seahawks have yet to get a rushing touchdown from one of their running backs -- quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has two -- and is averaging just 84.7 yards per game on the ground. That has put some pressure on Hasselbeck (623 passing yards, 4 TD, 5 INT), who threw for 220 yards against the Chargers. He was intercepted once and sacked three times, including once for a safety, but did manage a nine-yard touchdown throw to tight end and leading receiver John Carlson (13 receptions, 1 TD). Carlson and Deion Branch (12 receptions, 1 TD) both ended with five catches and combined for 121 receiving yards. Rookie wide receiver Golden Tate (5 receptions) added four catches for 33 yards and Forsett made three receptions for 31 yards.

Though the Rams are tied for 24th in total defense, they have been stingy in keeping teams out of the end zone and are yielding only 16.3 points per game. They limited the Redskins to just one touchdown and three field goals this past weekend, despite yielding 349 yards of offense. St. Louis did allow 116 yards on the ground, slightly below its 133.7 per game average on the season. Seattle, though, may elect to go to the air in this game if both Atogwe (19 tackles) and Dahl (14 tackles) can't go. James Butler started in Dahl's place, while Darian Stewart is listed behind Atogwe on the depth chart. Atogwe made four tackles before exiting last week's game early, while linebacker James Laurinaitis (21 tackles, 1 sack) made a team-best seven stops. St. Louis owns a plus-one turnover differential and came away with a pair of takeaways versus the Redskins. Cornerback Bradley Fletcher (14 tackles, 1 INT) grabbed his club's third interception of the season, while linebacker Na'il Diggs (9 tackles) was able to force a fumble that was recovered by Butler (7 tackles, 1 INT). Defensive end James Hall (9 tackles, 2 sacks) came away with the Rams' lone sack.

WHEN THE RAMS HAVE THE BALL

One would think that an early injury to Jackson (214 rushing yards, 1 TD) would be enough to doom the Rams, but they were able to rally back past the Redskins thanks to solid play by the reserves. While Jackson had 58 yards on 10 carries before his injury, Kenneth Darby (51 rushing yards, 1 TD) chipped in with 14 rush attempts for 49 yards and notched the go-ahead score with a 12-yard run during the third quarter. Darby figures to get the start if Jackson can't go, though Keith Toston did add 22 yards on 11 carries last week. Bradford (655 passing yards, 4 TD, 5 INT) completed 23-of-37 pass attempts and was picked off once in addition to throwing a three-yard touchdown toss to tight end Daniel Fells (8 receptions, 1 TD) as part of St. Louis' 14-point first quarter. Wide receiver Danny Amendola (16 receptions) made a team-high six catches for 56 yards and Mark Clayton (17 receptions, 2 TD) added five receptions for another 85 yards. In all, Bradford completed a pass to nine different receivers, a good sign for the league's 24th-ranked offense. Should Jackson play, he would need just 39 yards to pass Marshall Faulk (6,959) for second on the club's all-time rushing list.

The Seahawks were able to claim a victory last weekend despite allowing 518 total yards of offense, marking their first win after giving up 500-plus yards since Nov. 24, 2002. Seattle's five takeaways were the reason that was possible, and two of those came in the form of interceptions by safety Earl Thomas (21 tackles, 2 INT), who became the first Seattle rookie to pick off two passes in the same game since Nov. 4, 1984. Pressure on quarterback Philip Rivers probably helped Thomas, as end Chris Clemons (11 tackles, 2 sacks) had two of Seattle's four sacks. Tackle Brandon Mebane (7 tackles, 1 sack) and end Raheem Brock (5 tackles, 2 sacks) also got to the quarterback, while massive right defensive end Red Bryant (9 tackles, 1 sack) recovered a pair of fumbles. Strong safety Lawyer Milloy (23 tackles) led the team with 12 tackles, while linebacker David Hawthorne (15 tackles) came away with nine stops. Pressure on Bradford will again be key, seeing as the Seahawks are ranked 30th in the NFL in pass defense at 315.7 yards allowed per game. They yielded 455 to Rivers and rookie corner Walter Thurmond (9 tackles) was forced to make seven tackles.

FANTASY FOCUS

Julius Jones owners can cut bait with the backup after watching Forsett get nearly all of the carries last weekend, while Jones was left without a touch. As long as that stays the case, Forsett has value and draws a good matchup this weekend. Hasselbeck has been prone to making mistakes, but a healthier line could help his numbers and he should be considered a sleeper start as the NFL begins its bye weeks. Carlson has shown to be a good target and is one of the better options at tight end, but Seattle's wide receiving group is lacking a true fantasy-worthy starter. Seattle's defense should put up some fantasy points thanks to Washington's return ability and a good matchup, while kicker Olindo Mare has yet to miss this season.

Jackson owners, of course, need to keep an eye on the injury report and should scoop up Darby as insurance if possible. If Jackson is out, Darby moves into the starting category and should get a good number of touches to keep the pressure off Bradford, who is showing signs of getting better but is still a risky fantasy play. Like Seattle, St. Louis lacks a true fantasy stud in the passing game. The Rams' defense ranks 17th in points allowed per game and kicker Josh Brown missed one of his four field goal tries against the Redskins. Still, he could benefit if St. Louis struggles in the red zone without Jackson.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

With the Seahawks surprisingly tied for the top spot in the NFC West, the club can ill-afford to let a winnable game get away. Seattle has had St. Louis' number for the past few years, and that shouldn't change this weekend. Seattle's defense and special teams bailed the club out a week ago against a better opponent, but the offense should be able to move the ball over the Rams, who figure to face an even steeper uphill climb if Jackson is out or limited. The Rams are still growing under Bradford and do have home-field advantage, not that it has mattered in recent years. This game could be an ugly one, but the Seahawks have the experience and better tools.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Seahawks 20, Rams 13

Julius Jones Inactive, Russell Okung Active For Seahawks

Running back Julius Jones will not play against the Rams, showing up on the inactive list this morning. Russell Okung, Brandon Mebane, Marcus Trufant and Aaron Curry are all active and should be ready to go.

The Everett Herald's John Boyle posted the inactive list on Twitter this morning.

Steven Jackson Active, Starting For Rams

Chris Mortenson is reporting Steven Jackson is active and will start for the St. Louis Rams today. Jackson worked out this morning to test his strained groin before deciding he was good to go for today's game against the Seahawks. It's still unknown how much he will play.

St. Louis Rams Final Injury Report

The Rams final injury report is long enough to be an impressive non-fiction hardback. Steven Jackson and OJ Atogwe are still questionable, Laurent Robinson is doubtful and the Rams will be without their top two tight ends. The starter, Billy Bajema, and backup, Mike Hoomanawanui, will both be sidelined with injuries against the Seahawks.

For the full injury report, check out the Danny O’Neil’s Seahawks blog at the Seattle Times.

Seattle Seahawks Final Injury Report

The final injury report of the week is out and all the names we've been seeing this week are present. Brandon Mebane, Marcus Trufant and Sean Locklear are questionable for Sunday's game. E.J. Wilson is doubtful, with Russell Okung, Aaron Curry, Mike Williams and a host of others checking in as probable.

The Seahawks posted the full report on Twitter tonight. And by full I mean as much as they could fit in 140 characters.

Sounds like Okung will, in fact, make his debut on Sunday against the Rams. Mebane and Trufant are valuable parts in the Seahawk defense, making their questionable status a bit worrisome.

The Seahawks and Rams take the field Sunday at 10 a.m.

Russell Okung May Play This Weekend

First-round draft pick Russell Okung finally returned to practice this week and appears to be ready to go this weekend. After suffering a high-ankle sprain in the preseason, Okung has been sitting out while waiting for it to heal. Though he began practicing earlier this week, it seemed like his Seahawk-debut would still be later, rather than sooner.

The Tacoma News Tribune's Eric Williams had a report from practice, passing along head coach Pete Carroll's thoughts on the left tackle.

"Russell's ready to play," Carroll said. "He did a very good job this week. We'll see how this day affects him, and we'll get all the way to game time to make a decision on that."

Sounds encouraging. Okung would be a much needed shot in the arm for the Seahawk offensive line. Throwing him into the mix, if healthy, at left tackle gives Matt Hasselbeck a promising protector for his blind-side.

We'll find out more Sunday as the Rams take on the Seahawks at 10 a.m.

Steven Jackson's Status Still Uncertain For Sunday

Steven Jackson finally practiced today, on a limited basis, but is still listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks. OJ Atogwe also had a limited practice and is questionable, as well.

The Seattle PI's Greg Johns posted the updates on Twitter.

Seahawks Week Four Injury Updates: Curry Practices, Trufant And Mebane Game-Time Decisions

Aaron Curry was a full-participant in practice today and will play Sunday, according to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Brandon Mebane and Marcus Trufant, however, will be game-time decisions on Sunday.

The Everett Herald's John Boyle reported the injury news on Twitter this afternoon.

Seattle Seahawks Roster Moves: Leroy Hill Placed On IR, Craig Terrill Resigned

The roster moves continue for the Seahawks today. Leroy Hill was placed on injured reserve after suffering anAchilles injury a few weeks ago. In his place, defensive tackle Craig Terrill was resigned.

The Everett Herald's John Boyle reported the moves on Twitter.

Hill may have played his last down as a Seahawk. The linebacker has dealt with a multitude of off-field problems as well as the Achilles injury that can be so devastating for a football player. His restructured contract makes him a free agent at the end of the year.

Report: Seahawks Linebacker Leroy Hill Placed On Injured Reserve, Done For The Season

Greg Johns of the Seattle PI reports on Twitter that the Seattle Seahawks have placed linebacker Leroy Hill on injured reserve.

Hill has been hampered by an Achilles injury and this move requires that Hill is done for the season as a Seahawk.

More On Chester Pitts' Release

Pete Carroll elaborated on the Seahawks latest set of roster moves today, noting that Chester Pitts still hadn't recovered from an offseason knee surgery and wouldn't be ready to go this weekend. Because of the need for offensive linemen, the Seahawks were forced to let him go (via Curtis Crabtree)

That doesn't mean it's over for Pitts. Carroll said the Seahawks would try to bring him back later, when the numbers and his Pitts' health allow them to do so (via John Boyle).

So, there you go. Through the power of Twitter, questions surrounding a small roster move are answered in mere minutes.

Seahawks Release Chester Pitts And Chris Henry, Re-Sign Mike Gibson

In a surprise move today, the Seahawks released guard Chester Pitts. The Everett Herald's John Boyle reported the roster move on Twitter.

In addition to releasing Pitts, the Hawks also released running back Chris Henry to sign recently waived Mike Gibson to the practice squad. The Tacoma News Tribune's Eric Williams reported those moves on Twitter, as well.

Steven Jackson Misses Another Practice With Groin Injury

Steven Jackson is still sitting out of practice with a groin injury. Rams' coach Steve Spagnuolo still maintains that the decision on whether or not Jackson will play lies in the star running backs' hands. How he feels will dictate whether he'll play or how much he can play on Sunday.

The Rams Twitter account reported on the practice participants today, noting that Jackson and OJ Atogwe both sat-out again.

Brandon Stokley Serves As Mentor For Seattle Seahawks Receivers

Percy Allen of the Seattle Times writes that the Seattle Seahawks signed veteran (read: old) wide receiver Brandon Stokley to help mentor the team’s younger wide receivers, like electric rookie Golden Tate.

There he was, Seattle’s oldest receiver at 34, mentoring the 22-year-old rookie and at that moment you got the feeling the Seahawks signed Stokley to do a little more than just catch passes.

“There wasn’t a huge need for Brandon, but he makes us better in so many ways and it’s not just what he brings to the field,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "He knows this system and he’s been in this system.

“He can help guys that way and oh by the way, he’s a pretty good receiver too. It just goes with the central theme around here, which is competition and always trying to get better.”

Seahawks Injury Report: Russell Okung Practices, Leroy Hill Out

The Seahawks took to the fields of the VMAC for practice today, with a few players returning from injuries and others sitting out. Russell Okung is back, as expected, and Leroy Hill is still out, nursing an Achilles injury. Sean Locklear also showed up on the injury report, only practicing on a limited basis today.

KJR 950's Curtis Crabtree tweeted the full injury report.

NFL Week 4 TV Coverage Maps

Coverages maps for the week three games are up, giving us a clear picture of what games CBS and Fox are pushing this week. The Seahawks-Rams game will be shown to most of Washington, Oregon, Missouri and Oklahoma. A good percentage of the nation will get the Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers in the early game on Fox.

Full coverage maps for all of Sunday’s games can be found here. The Seahawks website also has a text-list of regions receiving the game here.

The Seahawks take on the Rams Sunday at 10 a.m.

St. Louis Rams Injuries: Steven Jackson, Laurent Robinson, Others Miss Practice

Steven Jackson was joined on the sidelines today by Laurent Robinson, Oshiomogho Atogwe and a handful of other Rams today.

FoxSports.com’s Nate Latsch had the report from the Rams’ practice.

Safeties Oshiomogho Atogwe (thigh) and Darian Stewart (hamstring), wide receiver Laurent Robinson (foot), defensive tackles Clifton Ryan (migraines) and Darell Scott (ankle), tight ends Michael Hoomanawanui (ankle) and Billy Bajema (knee) and linebacker Chris Chamberlain (toe) all missed practice on Wednesday.

Safety Craig Dahl (concussion) returned to practice but was limited.

The Rams, like the Seahawks, are dealing with a pretty extensive injury list leading up to Sunday’s game. Jackson will continue to be day-to-day this week and may be a game-time decision on Sunday.

We’ll have more on the rest of the injuries as information becomes available.

For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation’s FieldGulls.

Seahawks Week Four Injury Report

The Seahawks made it out of Sunday's game with a win -- thanks in large part to Leon Washington -- but they did come away banged-up. Marcus Trufant, Aaron Curry, Mike Williams and Brandon Mebane all suffered an injury of some sort and are using the lead-up to this weekend's game to heal.

The Seahawks Twitter account had an update on receiver Mike Williams and his shoulder injury.

Williams will wear a non-contact jersey this week in an effort to speed up the healing process.

The Seattle Times' Danny O'Neil also passed along the word on cornerback Marcus Trufant, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and linebacker Aaron Curry.

Steven Jackson Very Questionable With A Groin Injury

Steven Jackson is still nursing a groin injury suffered against the Washington Redskins, leaving his status for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks in serious question.

The Seattle Times’ Danny O’Neil passed on the word from Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo.

“We’re going to tread lightly on this one,” Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said on a conference call with Seattle reporters. "It is truly day-to-day. The news was good when the MRI came back and it wasn’t a tear, but he’s sore. You’re talking about a running back with a lower-extremity injury, and so you’re going to be careful with it.

Without Jackson, the Rams will have to rely on rookie quarterback Sam Bradford’s arm, making the St. Louis offense much less formidable. Even if Jackson is ready to go, it’s clear he won’t be at 100 percent. The Seahawks may have dodged a bullet against a Rams team that’s looking much more dangerous than it did before the season.

Seattle takes on St. Louis this Sunday at 10 a.m. on Fox.

For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

Report: Seahawks Sign LB Slade Norris To Practice Squad

Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian is reporting that the Seattle Seahawks have signed linebacker Slade Norris to their practice squad.

Former Oregon State linebacker Slade Norris has signed with the Seattle Seahawks and will join the team’s practice squad Wednesday, according to a source close to the situation.

On Friday the Oakland Raiders released Norris from their practice squad. He was the team’s fourth-round pick during the 2009 NFL Draft.

Leon Washington Named NFL Special Teams Player Of The Week

In the shocker of all shockers, Leon Washington was named the NFL's special teams player of the week for week three. Washington racked up 234 yards and two touchdowns on kickoff returns against the San Diego Chargers. His 99- and 101-yard touchdowns propelled the Seahawks to a win over the Chargers.

KJR's Curtis Crabtree has been busy today, breaking the news of Washington's award on Twitter.

Seahawks Sign OL Allen Barbre, Release Mansfield Wrotto And Mike Gibson

The roster moves keep coming for the Seattle Seahawks today. The Seattle PI's Greg Johns reported on Twitter that the Hawks have signed former Green Bay lineman Allen Barbre and released Mansfield Wrotto and Mike Gibson.

Wrotto and Gibson were casualties of the Giacomini and Barbre signings. Instead of making a straight cut across the board of a wide receiver for Brandon Stokley's addition, Seattle got rid of running back Quinton Ganther, leaving Michael Robinson to shoulder the load as the fullback.

Report: Seahawks Release RB Quinton Ganther

950 KJR's Curtis Crabtree is reporting the Seahawks will release running back Quinton Ganther to clear a roster spot for newly-acquired wide receiver Brandon Stokley.

Report: Seahawks Sign WR Brandon Stokley And T Breno Giacomini

More roster moves coming from the Seahawks today as they signed former Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley and tackle Breno Giacomini.

950 KJR's Curtis Crabtree had a report on the additions and what the corresponding roster moves may be.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN is reporting the Seahawks have signed former Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts WR Brandon Stokley.

[...]

Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette is also reporting the Seahawks have signed Packers T Breno Giacomini off their practice squad.

He also notes Seattle likely won't release a receiver to make room for Stokley. Instead, running back Quinten Ganther may be on the chopping block.

Stokley gives the Seahawks a sure-handed slot receiver and safety valve for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. It's clear Pete Carroll and John Schneider will leave no stone unturned in an effort to find talent.

For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls.

Report: Seahawks OL Russell Okung Will Return To Practice

Greg Johns of the Seattle PI reports that Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman and first round draft pick Russell Okung is on the mend.

First-round draft pick Russell Okung will return to practice this week for the Seahawks, but coach Pete Carroll said Monday he won’t be rushed into the starting lineup.

Okung has been out since Aug. 21 with a high-ankle sprain.

Carroll: Aaron Curry Hamstring Injury 'Not Serious'

Linebacker Aaron Curry tweaked his hamstring against the Chargers on Sunday, leaving the game and spending the rest of his day on the sideline. The first-round draft pick's injury status has cause concerns for fans, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll eased the fears this afternoon (via the Seattle Seahawks Twitter account).

NFL Week 4: Seattle Seahawks At St. Louis Rams - News And Notes

It's not clear whether the Seattle Seahawks have an identity yet but, regardless, it's impossible not to watch them. The unpredictability is titillating. Two Leon Washington kickoff returns for touchdowns made up for insanely poor clock management and assorted other mistakes as the Seahawks squeezed past the favored San Diego Chargers 27-20 on Sunday at Qwest Field.

That pushed Seattle to 2-1 on the season as they head to St. Louis during Week 4, looking for their first road win of the season against the Rams.

Here's a round up of NFL Week 3 thoughts about the Seahawks before we look ahead to Week 4.

John Morgan of SB Nation's Field Gulls tries to make sense of a nutty victory.

Man, I have no words. I do not even know if I enjoyed this win, not during the win at least. I enjoyed portions of the game. I enjoyed the outcome. I still can not exactly piece together how it happened.

Maybe that's just how it feels when special teams and turnovers win the game.

There wasn't a defining drive, or a big catch, except maybe Earl Thomas's last second interception. Justin Forsett fit a couple nice runs, between battling blockers in the backfield, and Matt Hasselbeck found open receivers, but the Seahawks best pass play ended in an excruciating fumble by Deion Branch. That fumble, much of the game felt like that fumble. Except, in the metaphorical version, Branch tracks down the ball and falls on it for the touchdown.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times writes it was all about making plays.

They gave their crowd the whole package. The good. The bad. The OMG. They showed us how far they've come. And how far they still can go.

"I'm excited about the win," wide receiver Branch said, "but I think we can do a whole lot better. This is great, don't get me wrong. It's hard to win even one game in the NFL, but I think we're way better than what we put out on the football field today."

Inside a re-awakened Qwest Field, the Seahawks did what they always used to do. They made plays.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune writes that the Seahawks won despite giving up a ton of yards on defense.

It's not every day you give up 518 yards of total offense, including a franchise-record 455 through the air, and still come out victorious.

"We're not going to win like that all the time," Carroll said. "It took something out of the ordinary, and that's where the kicking game stepped up ... for us."

Williams has more from Carroll on the defensive struggles...

"We made a number of mistakes on Gates as we were shuffling some guys in there," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. "And he had a big day, and so did Phil. But when it came down to it, guys made the right plays at the right time to win."

Speaking of the kicking and kick returning game, Greg Johns of the Seattle PI writes...

Washington returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in 2007 when he was a Pro Bowl special teams player for the Jets and also returned one in 2008. His six career TD returns now tie him for second on the all-time NFL list behind the eight of Cleveland's Josh Cribbs.

"I've never had two in a game," he said. "I'm told it's only happened a few times in the league. It's good to be a part of that. But we can get more. We can't be satisfied, we can get more this year."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune writes that all the preseason roster shuffling is paying off.

"They're definitely showing up," veteran safety Lawyer Milloy said. "We've had, what, 180-190 transactions? Between Pete and Schneid, they have an idea what they want this team to be, first and foremost, and have a vision of the style of player they want."

Actually, the transaction count is up to 195, and some of those were even in the first week of the season and included guys such as Tyler Polumbus and Stacy Andrews, players who have started on the offensive line because of injuries.

"Everybody doubted (Schneider and Carroll), but they really believed that all the moves they did were for the betterment of the team," Milloy said. "It was a little weird at first ... but it's paying off."

Leon Washington had two touchdowns but Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch gave away another one, when a Charger defender knocked the ball out of his hands right before he crossed the goal line.  The ball went out of the end zone for a touchback and possession turned over to the Chargers. Greg Johns of the Seattle PI quotes Branch on the play.

"If the ball touches the tip of the goal line, it's a touchdown. And I was probably 2-3 inches away when the ball started coming loose," he said.

"It wasn't the guy on my heels (that got me). It was the safety that came over. I stiff-armed him and he went around me. I'm never one of the guys to pull out the stiff arm and I pulled it out finally and he made a great play. It's nothing I can complain about. There are a lot of great athletes in this league.

Mike Sando of ESPN.com writes that everyone is back.

Leon Washington is back. So is the "12th Man" at Qwest Field.

The Seattle Seahawks are back, too -- not all the way or even most of the way, but enough of the way to win home games and contend for the NFC West title in a flawed division that nonetheless went 3-1 Sunday.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was just loving life as always during the Week 3 win, writes Greg Johns of the Seattle PI.

"I can't imagine a stadium in this country crazier than those last couple sequences," coach Pete Carroll said after his team emerged with the most-unlikely victory. "That was incredibly cool."

Art Thiel of the Seattle PI shares Carroll's optimism.

But the Seahawks can make the argument that last season they had no luck and less skill. So whether it's cooperation, as Carroll suggested, the home-hollering advantage or the dubious dealings of the opponent, they are pointing in the general direction of up.

As for the Rams, they are still pitiful, despite a Week 3 win over the Washington Redskins.

One bright spot is rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, writes Mike Sando of ESPN.com, although he has struggled on first down.

Bradford has zero touchdowns, four interceptions and a 28.3 rating on first down. He has three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 106.8 rating on second down. Teams can be less predictable on second down, when coordinators have more flexibility with their play calling. Perhaps that accounts for the difference. Bradford appears comfortable when the Rams run a faster-paced offense. Two-minute situations seem to suit him.

Bill Coats of STLToday.com says Sam Bradford played the best game of his brief NFL career against the Redskins.

QUARTERBACK: Sam Bradford had the most solid outing of his rookie season. He completed 23 of 37 passes for 235 yards, with a TD and an interception. More important, his teammates credited Bradford with being calm yet firmly in control after the Redskins rallied for the lead in the third quarter.GRADE: B

Rams running back Steven Jackson was injured during the Redskins game and Jim Thomas of STLToday.com reports that St. Louis is exploring other options.

The result was a groin muscle injury that ended Jackson's day and has his status uncertain for next Sunday's home game against Seattle. The Rams already are exploring possible options in the backfield.

League sources Sunday night told the Post-Dispatch that the Rams have been in contact with running back Larry Johnson and plan to have further discussions this morning. Johnson, the former Pro Bowler with Kansas City, opened this season with Washington but was cut last week.

When all was said and done Sunday, the Rams and head coach Steve Spagnuolo were just happy not to be 0-3, writes Jim Thomas of STLToday.com.

"Let's face it, we didn't want to be faced with 0-3," Spagnuolo said. "We've been in two prior games where we certainly all felt we could have won, and we didn't. So you were looking for find a way to win, and we did that. We did that today even in the middle of a lot of adversity."

Taken together, the Week 4 road trip looks like an excellent opportunity for the Seattle Seahawks to snag their first road win of the season and to put some added distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC West, where they are tied with the Arizona Cardinals at 2-1 for the top seed.