KIRKLAND – Two days before the official debut of new wide receiver Deion Branch, the Seattle Seahawks’ offense received another boost.
Pro Bowl running back Shaun Alexander and tight end Itula Mili returned to practice Friday and are expected to play in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Both players had missed the previous two days while resting injuries.
Alexander’s return was expected because coach Mike Holmgren said earlier in the week that Alexander would rest his sore foot for “a couple” of days.
Alexander injured the foot in the season opener. He said two days ago that the injury has improved since then.
“It is just football; football is physical,” Alexander told reporters on Thursday. “It is just one of those things. It’s sore. The good thing about soreness is that it does stop. It is a lot better today than it was the last two weeks.”
Holmgren said Friday that Alexander used the time off wisely.
“My thing with Shaun was that he had to stay in it mentally by watching practice,” Holmgren said. “And he did those things. As far as knowing what to do, it’s going to be fine.
“And he tells me it feels much better. If it feels much better, than we absolutely did the right thing.”
Mili injured his left knee in last Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. It marks the second time in the past month Mili has suffered a minor knee injury. He hobbled off the field during an Aug. 26 game at San Diego but returned to the field less than two weeks later.
His latest return was even more surprising.
“He went from one foot in the grave and one on the banana peel to being able to play,” said Holmgren, who initially listed Mili as “questionable” on the injury report. “My crack training staff did a wonderful job.”
Mili said that he’s always been a quick healer.
“My body just responds,” he said. “I felt good (Friday). I’ve always been like that. I have something in me where I just recover faster.”
Even if Mili plays, there is a chance Will Heller will start and get most of the snaps at tight end.
“I have not decided yet,” Holmgren said after Friday’s practice. “I’m leaning a little more toward (starting) Heller, to be honest with you. But I have not made that decision.”
Not-so-Giant rush: While Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has endured a lot of hits in the first two games, Sunday’s matchup with the Giants could actually provide some relief.
That might sound strange when considering the Giants have two big-time pass rushers at defensive end (34-year-old Michael Strahan and 24-year-old Osi Umenyiora) as well as a veteran linebacker (LaVar Arrington) who once had 11 sacks in a single season, but New York has had trouble getting to opposing quarterbacks this season.
“Obviously, we haven’t beaten the one-on-one matchups,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said, referring to the lone sack that the Giants have notched in two games this season. “And when we decide we’re going to cover (and) we bring in four (pass rushers), four have to get it done for us. Last week there was too much time many occasions.”
Umenyiora had the team’s lone sack in last Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
But the Seahawks aren’t overlooking New York, especially after the two-sack performance Umenyiora turned in against Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones in a November 2005 meeting.
“I’ve been watching film (of Umenyiora), but I watched film last year,” Jones said this week. “I knew he was a great pass rusher last year. I didn’t go into the game thinking this guy is this or that. I look forward to the challenge this year, just like I did last year.”
Quick slants: Game balls from the win over Arizona were handed out Friday. They went to wide receiver Darrell Jackson (offense), middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (defense) and fullback Josh Parry (special teams). … The Seahawks plan to activate Branch today, meaning they’ll have to clear a roster spot for him. Chris Cooper, one of six defensive tackles, seems like the most likely candidate to be cut.
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