Hasselbeck had not sufficiently recovered from a hyperextended knee he suffered against the New York Giants on Oct. 5, so he went to see a specialist in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

The specialist, according to Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, said that Hasselbeck is experiencing weakness in the knee because of a bulging disc in his back, a topic that was derided by the team as overblown earlier in the season.

When a report surfaced on Sept. 7 that Hasselbeck had a bulging disc that required an injection, Holmgren said that everybody of a certain age has a bulging disc and that it is nothing to be concerned about. Hasselbeck said the same thing in his meeting with reporters after losing to Buffalo.

Now, it turns out, the back is a bigger issue than the Seahawks let on and it will cost the 33-year-old Hasselbeck a second consecutive game, at least. Holmgren said Hasselbeck will undergo rehab designed to allow him to play against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 26, if all goes well.

Who will replace Hasselbeck remains to be seen. Charlie Frye started in a 27-17 loss to Green Bay because Seneca Wallace had re-aggravated a calf injury during the week and was limited in what he could do.

Frye, however, threw for only 83 yards and had two interceptions.

Wallace is a possibility to play against the Buccaneers, though Holmgren said he will have to see him practice and make progress before he decided whether he will be able to start on Sunday, in part because if he loses mobility it cuts into the playbook.