Alexander will start for Hawks, but Watters will play

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

KIRKLAND – Ricky Watters will be back on the field Sunday, but Shaun Alexander will start.

Beyond that, Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren is being intentionally vague in regards to his team’s running back situation.

“We have a way we are going to play,” Holmgren said after Friday’s practice, “but I am not going to go into details.”

Holmgren added that the running backs’ roles will be determined “on a week-to-week basis,” but felt it best to use Watters as a reserve in his first game back. Watters has been out since suffering a shoulder injury in a Sept. 30 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

“I suppose everybody could make a big deal out of who starts and all that,” Holmgren said, “but we need them both to play. I don’t think (who starts) is very important.”

Watters practiced three days this week, including a short session before Thursday’s practice in which rookie linebacker Orlando Huff took a few orchestrated shots at his healed right shoulder. Watters looked like he had not lost a step during the layoff, and said Friday that he can’t wait to get back on the field.

“It’s going to be weird because it’s something I never had to do in my career,” Watters said of being a backup. “At the same time, I’ve been out nine weeks, and if Coach thinks that’s what I need, I need to ease into it. That is what’s best for the team.”

Watters had gone seven consecutive seasons without missing a game until suffering a cracked bone in his right shoulder against the Raiders. Watters said Friday that he opted not to have surgery because private doctors told him that the injury would heal better and more rapidly without it.

During Watters’ absence, Alexander jumped into the starting lineup and rushed for 954 yards over eight starts – the highest total in the NFL during that span. On the season, Alexander ranks third in the AFC with 981 rushing yards.

Both running backs said the return of Watters, who has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the past six seasons, will only help the offense.

“I think we’re going to be all right,” Alexander said. “It’s another person that can make plays and help us win. That’s what it’s all about, getting ourselves in the playoffs and then winning some games. We know these next five games are huge, so to have Ricky back is just a great, great, great thing for us.”

Asked how the offense might look with two healthy feature backs, Watters said: “That remains to be seen, but I can’t see how it could be a bad thing.”

Holmgren came into the week knowing that Watters would be back on the practice field, but cautioned that he was probably a week away from being ready to play in a game. But the 32-year-old running back looked so good at practice this week that he accelerated his return.

“It is not difficult to get him back in there,” Holmgren said. “The important thing that I have to watch is how he feels in the game. Is he getting tired faster? The things that you would look for from a guy who hasn’t played in 9 1/2 weeks. That will be the challenge for me.”

Watters has started 141 of his 142 career games, so it will certainly be strange for him to serve as a backup. But a strong outing Sunday just might change up the rotation for next week’s game against Dallas.

“I’m not even thinking about that or looking at it like that,” Watters said. “Obviously, I’m not the coach, and I don’t make those decisions. All I can do is come back and show that I’m ready to go and that I’m in great shape and I can handle playing the whole game.

” … I just want to play. I just want to win and get into the playoffs. If we can get to the Super Bowl, there is going to be enough for everybody to kind of pass around as far as accolades and things of that nature.”

Notes: Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown and defensive tackle John Randle are leading their respective positions in fan voting for the Pro Bowl. Fan votes are compiled on NFL.com and at Blockbuster video stores, and count as one-third of the selection process for the Pro Bowl. League players and coaches account for the other two-thirds. … Denver wide receiver Rod Smith (ankle) is still listed as questionable on the team’s injury report, and will be a game-time decision for Sunday’s contest against the Seahawks. … Holmgren said defensive end Lamar King is expected to miss his third consecutive game due to a strained calf.