Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck knocked out with rib bruise

Hasselbeck leaves with rib bruise

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was taken to a hospital for X-rays and a CT scan after injuring his ribs on a hard hit late in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The X-rays were negative while the CT scan was inconclusive, said Seattle coach Jim Mora, and Hasselbeck rejoined his teammates for the 2-hour flight home shortly after the 23-10 loss to the 49ers.

“It is a rib bruise at this point,” Mora said. “He’s doing much better. … We believe at this point, and it’s very preliminary, that he’s going to be OK.”

Hasselbeck went down for several minutes with 26 seconds left before halftime when 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis stuck him in the back as the QB was trying to dive for the end zone and was stopped at the 1-yard line.

Hasselbeck got up and was wobbly as he made his way to the sideline, where he fell to his knees and was quickly swarmed by Seattle coaches and trainers.

“I don’t know how you tell him to do anything different than he did,” Mora said. “You love to see that but you hate to see the results. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck left the game against the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter with a shoulder injury and Giants receiver Domenik Hixon left the game with a sprained knee.

After losing Donovan McNabb in Week 1, the Eagles lost running back Brian Westbrook when he sprained his right ankle against the Saints. He hopes he’ll be able to play next week.

Westbrook had his ankle taped in the third quarter. He had 52 yards rushing on 13 attempts.

Westbrook says the ankle feels sore. He had surgery to remove scar tissue and bone fragments from his right ankle in June.

The injuries mounted fast for the Buffalo Bills, who had two players — right tackle Brad Butler and tight end Derek Schouman — carted off the field with knee injuries against Tampa Bay.

Butler did not return after hurting his right knee late in the first half. Schouman was carted off the field after twisting his right knee while being tackled after a 6-yard catch with a minute left in the third quarter.

Schouman’s injury left Buffalo with one tight end, Derek Fine, after Shawn Nelson left the game in the first half with a strained shoulder.

Buffalo also lost starting cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who did not return after hurting his ankle late in the first half.

Jerious Norwood, the Falcons’ No. 2 running back, left the game against the Carolina Panthers with a head injury.

Norwood was hurt in the first quarter, apparently when taking a hard hit at the end of a 6-yard run. Defensive tackle Peria Jerry, the Falcons’ No. 1 draft pick, also went down with an injury in the fourth quarter.

Jerry was hurt while Jake Delhomme was completing a 10-yard pass to Steve Smith with about 9½ minutes remaining. The 294-pound rookie was treated on the field for several minutes and had to be helped to the sideline, appearing to favor his left knee. A cart whisked him to the training room.

Packers left tackle Chad Clifton was taken off on a cart for X-rays after injuring his right ankle on a running play in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Clifton spent several minutes on the ground in obvious pain after a 1-yard run by Ryan Grant on the Packers’ first offensive play of the second half. Clifton was helped up, but didn’t put his right foot on the ground or any weight on the leg as trainers waved for the cart.

Tennessee veteran punter Craig Hentrich hurt his left leg after a 48-yard punt at the end of the third quarter, and the 16-year veteran had to be helped off the field.

Washington Redskins right guard Randy Thomas and St. Louis Rams right tackle Jason Smith were both hurt, with both players requiring follow-up examinations to determine their severity of their injuries.

Thomas strained his right triceps in the first half, an injury that appears serious. Coach Jim Zorn said Thomas will be evaluated Monday.

No. 2 overall draft pick Smith left in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return.