Alexander returns to practice

Published 8:26 pm Wednesday, November 28, 2007

KIRKLAND _ An unidentified running object was moving around the Seattle Seahawks practice field on Wednesday afternoon. It was wearing No. 37 on its uniform.

For the first time in almost four weeks, running back Shaun Alexander participated in a practice. A sprained left knee has sidelined him since the Nov. 4 Cleveland game, yet he’s optimistic that he’ll be able to play Sunday at Philadelphia.

“There’s always a chance that something crazy happens,” a cautious Alexander said after the practice. “So I’m going to watch what I do, pay attention to every little thing, and make sure I give myself the best chance to get out there and play. I’m just excited to at least be out there practicing.”

Alexander took most of the repetitions with the first team Wednesday because Maurice Morris was limited by an ankle injury that he suffered in Sunday’s win at St. Louis. The health status of both players will be re-evaluated in the coming days, but it looks like the Seahawks should have both of their halfbacks on the field against the Eagles.

“We’ll wait and see,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “Anything I say probably won’t happen, so we’ll just let it happen and see how that goes.”

Running backs coach Stump Mitchell said that Alexander would likely resume his role as feature back when he’s cleared to play. But both halfbacks should see plenty of action if they’re healthy.

“Mo (Morris) is a downhill guy that has some elusiveness to him, but that’s not his major thing. He’s going to do what we ask him to do,” Mitchell said. “Shaun’s going to give a little more creativity _ sometimes good, sometimes bad. You take the bitter with the sweet.”

Alexander admitted that he’s not fully healed from either the knee injury or the broken wrist that still requires him to wear a brace on his left arm. But he added: “This is the best I’ve felt since the second week of the season.”

Alexander said it was difficult to watch from the sidelines but added that the team’s 3-0 record while he was out is encouraging.

“I’m not the guy that holds the secret to this,” Alexander said. “Mo did a lot of great things while I was gone, and he’s going to continue to do them. Whatever it takes for us to keep winning, that’s what we’re going to shoot for.”

Holmgren said that he talked to Alexander on Wednesday morning about the roles of both halfbacks in the offense.

“Mo will continue to play, and Shaun understands that. So it was all good,” Holmgren told the media before Wednesday afternoon’s practice. “I’m happy to have (Alexander) back. I’m glad he’s back, and I’m glad he’s healthy. Let’s see. I want to see how healthy he is.”

Philly starter in limbo: Eagles coach Andy Reid said that Donovan McNabb is still his starting quarterback, adding that he’ll only play Sunday if he’s healthy.

McNabb did not practice Wednesday while recovering from ankle and thumb injuries. But Reid said there is a chance he’ll be available for the game against Seattle.

“We’ll just take it day-by-day and see how he does as the week goes on,” Reid said in a Wednesday conference call.

A.J. Feeley started Sunday’s game against New England and completed 27 of 42 passes for 345 yards in a 31-28 loss.

“I thought he did some good things,” Reid said. “There are a couple of throws he’d like to have back. For the most part, he played well against a good team.”

Also sidelined Wednesday was Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who has a knee injury. But Westbrook told Philadelphia reporters that he’ll play in Sunday’s game. The official injury report comes out Friday afternoon.

Health update: Five Seahawks sat out Wednesday’s practice due to injuries. Wide receiver D.J. Hackett (ankle) is the only one who has been ruled out of Sunday’s game.

Also hurting are middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (rib/oblique), defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin), safety Mike Green (knee) and linebacker Will Herring (hamstring). Defensive tackle Craig Terrill did not practice due to illness.

Morris and center Chris Spencer (shoulder) were limited at practice. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck practiced despite a sore quad.

“It’s just a little tight,” he said. “I guess that’s all there is to say. I’m being smart with it. I’m not much of a scrambler anyway, so I’m not really concerned.”

Milestone win? With a victory Sunday, Holmgren would tie Chuck Knox as the winningest coach in franchise history. Holmgren has won 79 regular-season games, 82 when including the playoffs, while Knox has won 80 and 83.

Holmgren could also match Mike McCormack for the all-time best winning percentage as Seahawks coach if Seattle wins Sunday. McCormack was 4-3 (.571) as an interim coach in 1982, while Holmgren has a winning percentage of .568 in nine seasons with the team.

No muck in Philly: In an effort to prevent the same kind of conditions that marred Monday night’s game at Pittsburgh, the Eagles re-sodded the natural turf at their stadium this week.

“Like any field in the National Football League that is in a cold-weather area, it can get beat up just a little bit,” Reid said. “But we’ve always kept it at its best, and this is what our groundskeeper felt was the best situation. It’s beautiful right now.”

Quick slants: Floyd Womack continues to see plenty of action with the No. 1 offense at practices. He rotated with left guard Rob Sims on Wednesday and also played some right guard when Chris Gray spelled Spencer at center. … With three East Coast road trips remaining on the schedule, Holmgren said he typed up an alternative practice schedule this week but eventually tore it up. “Now I’m not going to talk about it anymore,” Holmgren said of the team’s recent struggles on the East Coast.