The foot injury that will sideline the NFL's reigning most valuable player, Shaun Alexander, has forced the Seahawks to part with one of their most popular performers, at least temporarily. Seattle on Saturday released seventh-year veteran linebacker and special teams standout Isaiah Kacyvenski and elevated RB Marquis Weeks from the practice squad for the Sunday night game against the Bears at Soldier Field.

Despite claims by tailback Shaun Alexander that the broken bone in his left foot has improved to the point where he might be able play this weekend, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday afternoon that he will not risk the long-term health of the NFL's reigning most valuable player. "If we still see the crack [on a CT exam], and I'm pretty sure we will, then we're not going to take any chances," Holmgren said. "Even if he says he feels well, I can't run the risk [of doing further damage to the foot]." On Wednesday evening, Holmgren's words proved prophetic, as team officials said that the second CT scan confirmed the crack in the bone.

Shaun Alexander may not have a broken foot after all. The Seahawks scheduled another round of CT scans for their league MVP on previously diagnosed cracked bone in his left foot, the injury for which Alexander was presumed to be out for weeks -- including Sunday's game at Chicago. "Shaun Alexander came in today feeling very, very good. Kind of frisky, as a matter of fact. Told me he could play in the game," coach Mike Holmgren said early Wednesday afternoon. "I said, 'Wait a second. Let's take a deep breath here.' But he really believes that he is feeling good enough to play."

Shaun Alexander cracked a bone in his sore left foot and will be lost to the Seattle Seahawks for at least a couple of weeks. Alexander has had soreness and a bone bruise in his left foot since the season opener at Detroit. Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that Alexander cracked a bone sometime during Sunday's 42-30 win over the New York Giants. Holmgren said the bruise in Alexander's foot led to the crack and Alexander was walking around team headquarters Monday on crutches. "You lose the MVP for a while, it's a hit," Holmgren said. "Let's face it, he's the MVP. We're not going to sugarcoat it."

The official announcement that New England would face the Seattle Seahawks in an exhibition game on August 8th in Beijing, China was made Sunday by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the Patriots lost to the Denver Broncos 17-7. "It was rumored for a bunch of weeks, so I always think it would be fun," Brady said. "I love traveling so I am looking forward to it. It is a long ways away, but I think it is cool that the Patriots are one of the teams they chose."

Mike Holmgren said running back Shaun Alexander probably won't practice a lot this week because of a sore foot. But the coach says he'll play next Sunday at Chicago. Alexander rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in the 42-to-30 victory over the Giants.

As expected, the Seahawks activated recently acquired wide receiver Deion Branch on Saturday and added him to the 53-man roster for the game Sunday against the Giants. To clear a roster spot, the Seahawks released defensive lineman Chris Cooper, who played well during the preseason but was stuck at the bottom of the depth chart. The NFL gave the Seahawks a two-week roster exemption for the former Super Bowl MVP, acquired Sept. 11 from the Patriots in a trade that ended Branch's 45-day contract holdout. Branch signed a $39 million, six-year contract with $13 million in guarantees two days later.

Shaun Alexander will start for the Seahawks on Sunday against the New York Giants despite a sore left foot. The league MVP practiced for the first time this week on Friday. Coach Mike Holmgren then fulfilled Alexander's promise to play from the day before.

Deion Branch will make his Seahawks debut on Sunday against the New York Giants. "He will be ready to go," Holmgren said of Branch. "We will activate him for the Giants. That's the plan right now."

Deion Branch will not make his Seattle Seahawks debut Sept. 17 against the Arizona Cardinals, after all. The NFL has given the Seahawks a two-week roster exemption for the former Super Bowl MVP, acquired Sept. 11 from the New England Patriots in a trade that ended Branch's 45-day contract holdout. Seattle would have had to release a player from its 53-man roster by Sept. 16 in order to add Branch for the Week 2 game. A Seahawks team spokesman confirmed they did not.