Hawks Notebook | Hasselbeck looks ready

KIRKLAND — Thanksgiving was very good to Matt Hasselbeck.

After missing Wednesday's practice and taking Thursday to continue rehabilitating sore ribs, the Seahawks quarterback made an unexpected return to practice Friday. What's more, he took much of the snaps in team drills with the starting offense, making it look as though he will start tomorrow when the Seahawks play at St. Louis.

"I kind of had a 'jump' day [Thursday]," Hasselbeck said. "I was feeling pretty good. It felt even better [Friday]. I just went out and tried to do what I could. It got a little better as I went along. The weather was good, the footing was decent, so we gave it a try and it was pretty good."

Hasselbeck is officially questionable for Sunday, but after today to rest he should be better prepared for action than he was earlier in the week, when coach Mike Holmgren thought Hasselbeck would miss all of practices and maybe do some throwing on the side.

"He feels better about it," Holmgren said. "We had some new plays, some new stuff and he wanted to do that so it kind of clicks in his mind."

Hasselbeck will wear a flak jacket to protect his ribs but always does that for games, anyway.

"I was Tylenol-free today," he said after Friday's practice.

Morris to start again

No practice for Shaun Alexander this week; no game action in St. Louis for him, either. So Maurice Morris will make his third consecutive start at running back.

Alexander missed Friday's workout and is officially out for tomorrow's game with a knee injury, his third in a row. He might not make the trip east with the team.

Morris has a history of minor injuries: a hip problem earlier this year, a concussion in 2004 and a hamstring injury in 2002.

Holmgren was asked this week whether there are concerns about Morris' durability.

"Yeah, but I could probably say that about everybody," Holmgren said, then was reminded that Morris had 18 carries last week, which is about how many Holmgren would like him to get in a game.

"And then Leonard [Weaver], of course, eases a little bit of the pressure on Mo because he can run a little bit," he said. "That coincides with how we're approaching things just a little bit differently now."

Friday at practice

Wide receiver D.J. Hackett (knee pain), left tackle Walter Jones (shoulder), defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin) and safety Mike Green (knee) all practiced Friday. It was the first practice this week for Hackett, Jones and Bernard. All are expected to play Sunday, Holmgren said.

Silencer of the Lambs

No doubt the Rams will be well aware of Seahawks return man Nate Burleson, who has punt and kickoff return touchdowns against the Rams in the past two meetings.

Burleson needs six punt returns to pass current Seahawks pro personnel director Will Lewis (41, 1980) for most punt returns in a season in team history, and 11 yards to pass Bobby Joe Edmonds (419, 1986) for most punt yards in team history.

But Holmgren will likely continue to send in Bobby Engram for punts around the Seahawks' 10-yard line, allowing Burleson to observe and see how Holmgren wants returns handled.

"Here's the deal. Nate, bless his heart, he wants to return every kick, which is a good attitude to have," Holmgren said. "But I don't want him to return it. If it falls inside the 10, I'd just as soon let it bounce. ... I just want to stay by the rules."

Holmgren said Burleson will probably be catching all punts before the season is over.

Note

• There have been an NFL-high 67 false starts against the visiting team at Qwest Field since the start of the 2005 season.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com