PHILADELPHIA — Shaun Alexander went six consecutive games without scoring a touchdown. Then he went another three weeks without playing in a game.
On Sunday, when the Seattle Seahawks had their most complete running game in months, Alexander did both.
The Seahawks’ running back gave his team a jolt in his return to the field, gaining 16 yards on his first carry and scoring a 2-yard touchdown on his second. While his game total of 65 yards on 20 carries did not exactly bring back memories of the unforgettable 2005 season, it helped ease the pain of recent performances.
“I thought Shaun did OK coming back,” head coach Mike Holmgren said after a 28-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. “When (the Eagles) bunch up the box, they make it tough to run the ball. For his first game back and not playing for the last few weeks, I thought he did pretty well.”
Alexander missed the past three games with a sprained knee, and Holmgren said last week that he would start but split time with Maurice Morris. In reality, Alexander did neither.
The Seahawks opened the game in a multiple-receiver set, and then he ran onto the field and gained 16 yards on the second play of the game. He was on the field for 36 plays, four times as many as Morris.
His presence seemed to light a fire under Morris, who broke a 45-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for what ended up being the game-winning score.
“The fullback (Leonard Weaver) did a great job of blocking,” Morris said of his touchdown run. “The line also blocked great, and I just needed to make one guy miss and it was off to the races.”
Morris, who had 64 rushing yards on just five carries, said he didn’t mind giving up playing time to Alexander.
“I am a team player,” he said, “and whatever it takes to win games, I am all for it.”
The Seahawks finished with 135 rushing yards, which marked their highest total since going for 139 in the season opener.
Alexander said it felt good to be back and added that he didn’t mind sharing part of the load. He and Holmgren had a conversation earlier this week about giving Morris more playing time, and the coach said Alexander handled the news “like a real professional.”
After Sunday’s game, Alexander was all smiles. He said he’s just fine with seeing Morris get more carries.
“We’ve been talking like that since ‘04,” Alexander said. “We’ve always thought we were a great tandem. Because I was the one scoring touchdowns, people would overlook some of the things that Mo did. And now here we are, where I’ve been hurt the last couple here, and Mo’s getting chances and playing great and finally getting the credit he deserves.”
Alexander is wearing a smaller brace on the left wrist that suffered a cracked bone in the opener, and he said he might start carrying the ball in that hand. He added that his wrist feels better but pointed out that it’s not 100 percent.
Whatever the reason, Alexander ran better than he has since early September. And the Seahawks’ running game got a boost from his presence.
“It was fine,” said quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, whose 19 completions marked his lowest total since Oct. 21. “In Seattle, we’re one of the teams that have featured one guy for a long time, and he’s been very healthy except for last year and this year. Then, we’ve been forced to use a committee,
“We’ve got talented backs. … So we’ve just got to keep doing it, keep using everybody, and keep playing to each guys’ strengths.”
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