Alexander practices
Seattle’s Shaun Alexander was back practicing Wednesday afternoon for the first time since he sprained his ankle 3 1/2 weeks ago.
Alexander looked rested and lively while getting most of the running-back plays with the offense, his first work since he sprained his left knee Nov. 4 in a loss at Cleveland.
“Everyone kept saying, ‘Man, it looked like you’re fresh,’ ” Alexander said.
“This is the best I’ve felt probably since the second week of the season.”
So does all fresh mean all healed?
“Uh, no,” the 2005 league MVP deadpanned. “This is football. Nothing’s healed. But it’s definitely something I can play with.”
Alexander said he will play Sunday when the Seahawks take their two-game lead in the NFC West to Philadelphia.
Coach Mike Holmgren was less definitive.
“We have our fingers crossed, as he does,” Holmgren said before practice, wary of how sore Alexander might be today.
Maurice Morris, who has averaged 85 yards rushing per game in three starts for Alexander, hurt his ankle late in last weekend’s win at St. Louis and missed all but a few plays of practice. Holmgren said Morris may not practice much before Sunday.
Asked whether Morris or Alexander, or both, will play against the Eagles, Holmgren said: “That’s a good one. Anything I say probably won’t happen. So we’ll just let it happen … and see how that goes.”
Alexander is still wearing a cast over a broken left wrist. Holmgren said he met with Alexander on Tuesday and explained that upon his return, Morris will continue to play.
Alexander said he was fine with that. It will be the first time since Alexander became Seattle’s lead runner in 2001 that he hasn’t been the sole, featured back in the offense.
The 30-year-old Alexander has 492 yards rushing in eight games. He has two touchdowns, the same as Morris has in the last three games.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck also practiced despite a sore quadriceps. He didn’t practice until Friday last week because of sore ribs, then rallied the Seahawks to 17 points in the second half Sunday to beat the Rams.
Lofa Tatupu watched practice with an electrical stimulation machine taped to his sore ribs.
He will likely play against the Eagles.
Taylor shooting called random
Sean Taylor’s father urged the Washington Redskins to make a playoff push, while Miami police asked for the public’s help to solve the safety’s death in what they suspect was a random burglary.
Miami-Dade police director Robert Parker said there were no indications the slain 24-year-old was targeted or knew his assailant.
“There’s nothing that indicates thus far that there’s some kind of involvement on the victim’s part,” said Parker, adding it was “more like a random event.”
Police have no suspects in the fatal shooting.
“We have no reason to think this was anything other than a burglary or a robbery involving an intruder,” Parker said.
Police are still investigating, however, a possible link to a Nov. 17 break-in at Taylor’s home, in which police said someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.
Evidence at Taylor’s home indicates one or more intruders barged into the house early Monday in an attempted burglary, Parker said.
After a confrontation inside the home, Taylor was shot once in the upper leg and died early Tuesday after losing a tremendous amount of blood.
Carter, Green considered
Wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback Darrell Green were the only first-year eligible players among 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2008.
Carter starred for the Minnesota Vikings from 1990-2001 and also played for the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. Green spent his entire career with the Redskins, from 1983-2002.
Around the league
Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals will have season-ending surgery on his ailing right heel. … With Cedric Benson finished for the season and placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, the Chicago Bears will start Adrian Peterson Sunday against the New York Giants. … Running back Chris Perry will miss the rest of the season with the Cincinnati Bengals as he recovers from a broken lower right leg. … Arizona place-kicker Neil Rackers has apologized for striking an NFL Films video camera with his helmet as he left the field following the Cardinals’ 37-31 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday. Rackers had just missed what would have been a winning 32-yard field goal.