Seattle Seahawks' running back Shaun Alexander practiced for the second consecutive day on Thursday. That makes it more likely he will play Sunday at Philadelphia for the first time since he sprained his knee 3? weeks ago. The 2005 league MVP split time as the lead running back during drills with Maurice Morris. Alexander's six-year backup fully participated in practice Thursday on his sore ankle after being limited a day earlier. Morris said his ankle was much better Thursday, and he will play when Seattle (7-4) meets the Eagles (5-6). He was injured when St. Louis linebacker Will Witherspoon tackled him by the face mask late in last weekend's win over the Rams. Coach Mike Holmgren has said Morris, who has averaged 85 yards rushing in the three games he has started for Alexander (all Seattle victories), will continue to play even when Alexander returns.

The Seattle Seahawks expected Shaun Alexander to be back practicing Wednesday afternoon for the first time since he sprained his ankle 3? weeks ago. "I think Shaun Alexander is going to practice today. We'll see how that goes," Coach Mike Holmgren said about 90 minutes before his team got on the field. "We have our fingers crossed, as he does." 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. Holmgren said Morris may not practice much before Seattle (7-4) plays at Philadelphia (5-6) on 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."

The revolving door that leads in and out of the Seattle Seahawks' offensive huddle is moving again, and this time a starter with more ankle problems is heading for the exit. Wide receiver D.J. Hackett will miss at least two weeks, and probably more, after aggravating the sprained ankle that forced him to miss six games earlier this season. Hackett re-injured the ankle in the third quarter of Sunday's win over St. Louis. "Right now they're talking about weeks -- just exactly how many weeks, I couldn't even tell you," Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday of the diagnosis given by team doctors. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has played without Hackett this season, but he still said that the latest injury a big hit to the offense.

Unexpectedly, nothing came on the side for Matt Hasselbeck on Friday. The Seahawks were hoping their quarterback might be able to throw on the side sometime before the NFC West leaders (6-4) flew to St. Louis to play the Rams (2-8) on Sunday. Instead, Hasselbeck asked into Friday's practice and was in the middle of the field running the offense for the first time all week. That pain in his side, which he's had since taking a hit in the ribs during last weekend's win over Chicago? That didn't happen, either. "I was Tylenol-free today, so that's good," said a smiling Hasselbeck, who had his third 300-yard game of the season against the Bears and the second-most completions (30) of his career.

Shaun Alexander spent Wednesday watching as his teammates practiced without him yet again. So on Sunday, the 2005 league MVP will miss his third consecutive game when NFC West-leading Seattle goes to St. Louis. Alexander is out because of a sprained knee he injured in a Nov. 9 loss at Cleveland.

Matt Hasselbeck said Sunday his ribs were so sore from getting hit while shredding the Bears, he needed sympathy at home from his wife. Monday, the Seahawks' quarterback got some from his coach. Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck is unlikely to practice this week before Seattle (6-4) takes its NFC West lead to St. Louis (2-8) on Sunday, but he will start against the Rams. "Matt's not going to practice much this week, if at all," Holmgren said, one day after Hasselbeck continued perhaps his best season by completing 30 of 44 throws for 337 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-23 win over Chicago.

Shaun Alexander will not play for the Seattle Seahawks until he's healthy enough to practice full time. "We had a talk, and I told him until he can practice the whole week. Until he can have a normal week of practice, I'm not going to put him on the field," Coach Mike Holmgren said after Friday's practice that Alexander watched in sweats. "I tried to explain that running backs -- you need to be able to do what you do, and if you're worried about an injury or something is sore and you can't make your cuts, you're really open to more injury. I'm not going to put him on the field until he can do what he does. He appreciated that." Holmgren wouldn't officially say Alexander is "out" for Sunday's game against Chicago but did say that backup Maurice Morris would get his second straight start. Morris had 28 carries for 87 yards in Seattle's 24-0 win over San Francisco last Monday.

The wind died down and the driving rains stayed away, so the Seahawks poured it on the 49ers instead. Matt Hasselbeck passed for 278 yards and two touchdowns; Maurice Morris rushed for another score; and the Seahawks' defense held San Francisco to six first downs in a 24-0 victory Monday night.

If the Seahawks' Friday practice was any indication, Deion Branch may return from an injury in time to play Monday night against San Francisco. Branch, Seattle's leading receiver, returned to the field wearing a helmet and practice uniform for the first time since spraining his right foot early in the loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 7. The former Super Bowl MVP ran on the side without apparent pain or hindrance while the rest of the Seahawks practiced. He will get a more extensive test in practice on Saturday, when coach Mike Holmgren will determine if Branch can play for the first time in four games. If Branch can't, Nate Burleson and D.J. Hackett will likely start again at wide receiver.

Shaun Alexander had three reasons for not only being out of the Seahawks' practice but out of sight Wednesday. A broken left wrist. A twisted left knee. A sprained left ankle. Alexander sustained the knee and ankle injuries while rushing for just 32 yards on 14 carries Sunday. "The swelling has gone down. It was not a structural injury," Holmgren said. "It's just now the swelling has to go down, his range of motion has to come back. The inflammation is limiting his ability to bend his knee." "Friday or Saturday he has to show me he can do what he does, otherwise we'll probably rest him."