RENTON, Wash. — Matt Hasselbeck tightened a wrap around his waist and balky back.

He then walked out of the locker room and said he's ready to start the Seahawks' season opener.

"Got to get my 'Gut-be-Gone' on," the quarterback joked Monday.

Seattle's just hoping the rust is gone from Hasselbeck by Sunday in Buffalo.

The Pro Bowl quarterback participated in just his second full practice since injuring his back nearly a month ago Monday in a short workout. He said he is ready to face the Bills despite having played just two series of a preseason game since January's playoff loss at Green Bay.

"I mean, ideally, yeah, you'd like to play a little bit more. But the situation is what it is," Hasselbeck said after his first practice since he left one early and in pain on Aug. 19. "I've gone into seasons when I wasn't 100 percent healthy. And if I had to take one or the other, I would take healthy and not as many reps.

"That's the situation we're in right now. It's not too different than last year, coming off my shoulder surgery."

When asked to clarify if he was 100 percent healthy, Hasselbeck said: "I think I'm 100 percent healthy. I'm probably not 100 percent in shape.

"That's what this week's for. ... I'm ready to go."

Hasselbeck had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his non-throwing shoulder immediately following the 2006 season, then played six series in two games of the preseason in 2007. Then he set team records for completions (352), attempts (562) and yards passing (3,966). That earned him his third Pro Bowl — and a belief rust from an inactive summer won't be much of an issue early this season, either.

"So it's not something I'm too concerned about," said Hasselbeck, who turns 33 this month.

He did his throwing in a light, 50-minute practice Monday, while Pro Bowl middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones, former Super Bowl MVP receiver Deion Branch and starting right tackle Sean Locklear were rested. The team doesn't need to issue an injury report until Wednesday.

Bobby Engram, who set a team record with 94 catches last season, is out until perhaps October with a broken shoulder. Branch had reconstructive surgery on his knee seven months ago. And versatile receiver Ben Obomanu went on injured reserve last weekend with a broken clavicle.

Nate Burleson was the only proven veteran Hasselbeck was throwing to on Monday.

Hasselbeck revealed his lower back was in pain and that he had spasms for weeks following an incident in practice just before the preseason opener Aug. 8 at Minnesota. He felt back pain on the flight to Minneapolis yet played anyway and was sharp — 7-for-8 for 70 yards and a touchdown in the first two series against the Vikings.

He hasn't played since. He's been seeing a chiropractor and doing intense, seemingly unending exercises each day to strengthen the core muscles in his lower back.

Asked if he has any pain in his back now, Hasselbeck said with a smile: "No. The rehab is bothering me! It's a lot of work."

"I feel great," he said. "It's been a little bit frustrating watching, especially because I've felt pretty good the last few days.

"I was probably a little rusty. ... I feel like it would be that much better on Wednesday."

As for that first hit in almost nine months that will come Sunday, Hasselbeck isn't anxious. He's been getting pounded on since arriving in Seattle to start in 2001. And he has been particularly battered for much of the past two seasons behind an offensive line that has been changing and often ineffective.

"No, you remember what that's like real quick," he said of the hits. "I don't need to know. I remember."