Alexander’s cast staying put for now
Published 11:49 pm Monday, September 17, 2007
KIRKLAND — The cast that protects Shaun Alexander’s left wrist isn’t going away anytime soon.
Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that his star running back will continue to wear a cast “for a little bit.” He did not give a specific timetable.
Alexander wore the cast in Sunday’s loss to Arizona because of a sprained wrist he suffered in the opener. The running back admitted after the Arizona game that he felt some soreness but added that the cast did not affect his ability to carry the ball or catch passes.
On Monday, Holmgren said that Alexander is still adjusting to the cast.
“There was a little period of getting used to it a little bit in the beginning of the game,” Holmgren said. “But then he said it was fine, once he kind of figured out how it’s going to feel, how it’s going to work playing with it.
“They’ll keep that on there as long as it’s doing what it’s supposed to be doing.”
Holmgren added that Alexander had less swelling in the wrist on Monday.
No longer on top: Someone other than the Seahawks is alone atop the NFC West for the first time since Week 5 of last season. San Francisco (2-0) is in first place, while Seattle and Arizona (both 1-1) are tied for second.
“It’s a long season, and I don’t think anyone has got their head held low,” Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said.
Dating back to last season, the Seahawks have now lost four consecutive games against division opponents.
The last time they were looking up at an opponent was coming out of their Oct. 8, 2006, bye week, when the 4-1 St. Louis Rams moved a half game ahead of the 3-1 Seahawks.
Health update: Holmgren said that Sunday’s game didn’t bring any new injuries, and he added that a couple players should be back on the practice field this week.
Running back Maurice Morris (hip) and starting linebacker Leroy Hill (foot) could both be available for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hill took part in running drills Monday, while Morris watched from the sideline.
Tubbs undergoes surgery: The team announced that defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs underwent successful reconstruction surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament last week.
Tubbs tore the ACL in his right knee during the Seahawks’ final preseason game and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.
Quick slants: Kicker Josh Brown, who took some criticism early in his career because he rarely kicked off into an opponent’s end zone, has an NFC-best five touchbacks this season. … The Seahawks rank 12th in the NFL in yards per game (356.5) and 23rd in yards allowed per game (357.5).
