This year was supposed to be different. 2008 was the aberration.

After injuries piled up by the truckload and the Seattle Seahawks sunk to 4-12 last season (their first losing season since 2002), fans couldn’t get to 2009 fast enough.

Then with a big free agent signing in T.J. Houshmandzadeh and a dynamite draft pick in Aaron Curry, expectations reached even higher.

But with a Week 2 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, that saw quarterback Matt Hasselbeck fall to a cracked rib, glimpses of the injury-plagued 2008 are resurfacing.

Add Marcus Trufant, Sean Locklear, Walter Jones, Chris Spencer, Deion Branch, Houshmandzadeh, Justin Griffith, Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu, Brandon Mebane, Travis Fisher and Josh Wilson to the list of key players that have at least missed practice with injuries this year and the situation is certainly scary.

However, don’t worry yet. The Seahawks are in better shape than this time last season when they sat at 0-2. The running game has shown signs of life that could keep the offense going even if Hasselbeck misses extended time.

Be wary, but don’t lose hope.