Out for at least three weeks, Hasselbeck blames defender

KIRKLAND, Wash. —  Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will sit out at least three weeks because of a strained ligament in his right knee.

And he’s not happy about it.

Hasselbeck says Minnesota’s E.J. Henderson could have avoided rolling into his lower right leg Sunday early in the second half of Seattle’s loss to the Vikings.

“I don’t think it was unavoidable, but only he would know,” Hasselbeck said of Henderson and his hit, which was not penalized.

The play occurred when the Vikings linebacker came off a block by fullback Mack Strong and swung his torso into Hasselbeck’s leg, which was planted after he had just thrown an incomplete pass.

“I’m sure he didn’t try to put me out for a long period of time -- but they didn’t want me to finish the game, either,” Hasselbeck said.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck will miss “around” three games. He will return no sooner than Nov. 19 at San Francisco.

Seneca Wallace will replace him Sunday at Kansas City. The Seahawks are already without league most valuable player Shaun Alexander (broken right foot).

When asked Monday whether he thought Henderson’s hit was clean, Holmgren said, “I’m going to stay away from that.... I’m going to let someone else make that call.”