KIRKLAND — Shock. Disappointment. Fear.
All would serve as appropriate emotions for a football player who’d learned that he had a cracked bone in his wrist. But the Seattle Seahawks’ Shaun Alexander felt none of those things. He wasn’t surprised at all.
“Our doctors said that they all thought it would be (cracked),” the running back said Thursday, three days after getting an official diagnosis of his injury. “But what can you do?”
Alexander said that the injury will not limit him from doing his job, adding that he feels healthier this week than he has since the start of the season opener.
“It’s all looking better,” he said. “It all happened in the first game (of the regular season).”
At that time, coach Mike Holmgren called it a “sprained wrist.” According to Alexander, doctors told him that it would take about two weeks before they could test for a crack.
“I’m actually way ahead of the curve,” Alexander said, referring to the two weeks of healing time he’s already had. “So I don’t think I’ll have to wear (a cast) much longer.”
Alexander has had full participation in practices and is expected to play in Sunday’s game against San Francisco. Holmgren said earlier this week that the injury has prevented Alexander from doing certain things, like blocking with both arms, but the running back said Thursday that he’s gotten used to the cast.
“It feels better now than it has been,” Alexander said, “so I’ll be a lot better now in both catching and blocking.”
Emotional reward: When the coaching staff presented game balls Thursday in commemoration of Sunday’s win over Cincinnati, not all the recipients were players.
Defensive coordinator John Marshall joined offensive star Deion Branch and special teams star Will Herring in getting honorary game balls.
Marshall got the award in part because his game plan helped the Seahawks beat the Bengals, but also because he was coaching the game with a heavy heart. Marshall’s 90-year-old mother had died earlier that day.
“It means everything,” Marshall said. “Heck, it could make you cry. It’s from my peers. It’s great, and I’ll always cherish it.”
Marshall said that coaching on the day of his mother’s death was not as difficult as it might sound.
“I’m at peace with it,” he said. “She’s lived 90 years, and she had a great life.
“Do I miss her? Yes, obviously. But I have strong faith, and I’ve got my responsibilities to this team. There was nothing I could do. And a lot of other players and coaches have done the same thing.”
Morris watches: Running back Maurice Morris was back on the sidelines for Thursday’s practice one day after returning to the field. He’s been nursing a sore hip since the season opener.
The official injury report comes out this afternoon, at which time Morris’s status for Sunday’s game will be revealed.
Herring was also out of action Thursday with a sore knee.
San Francisco welcomed back starters Larry Allen, Bryant Young and Walt Harris to practice but were without tackle Jonas Jennings (leg).
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
