Hasselbeck, Alexander might play

KIRKLAND — The crack in Shaun Alexander's foot was too small to be measured in inches, and his recovery progressed in increments that seemed almost as small.

But after missing the past six games Alexander is expected to practice on Wednesday, coach Mike Holmgren said, and his availability for Sunday's game in San Francisco would depend on how things proceed from there.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has a chance to play in Sunday's game in San Francisco, too, but probably won't practice fully until Friday. That was as close as Holmgren could come to offering any certainty in the recovery of his injury-ravaged offense.

"We just have to play it by ear," Holmgren said. "I wish I had a better answer for you, but I don't."

The Seahawks offense played St. Louis on Sunday without five opening-day starters, three of whom were Pro Bowl players last year. Hasselbeck, Alexander, center Robbie Tobeck, right tackle Sean Locklear and receiver Bobby Engram were all out.

It's as many injuries as Holmgren can ever remember in a season other than 2002 when the Seahawks lost five of their first six games. This season, the Seahawks are 6-3 and holding onto hope that they will be healthy before the month is out.

Tobeck is suffering from the flu, Engram continues to regain his energy and stamina after suffering from a thyroid problem and Locklear suffered a high ankle sprain that will likely keep him out for this week's game.

Alexander has been missing the longest, out since the last week of September because of a non-displaced fracture in his foot. He never missed a game in his first six seasons in the league.

Is the crack in the fourth metatarsal healing? Yes. Is it gone? Not as of last week, and Holmgren acknowledged Monday the latest round of tests would find signs of the injury.

"There's a good chance there might still be a little bit of a something in there that they see," Holmgren said.

But what Alexander is feeling in his foot doesn't correspond with what the tests are showing. That discrepancy is why the coach said the training staff will clear Alexander to practice even if tests don't say the crack is completely healed. Alexander ran around cones on Thursday, changing direction to put more stress on his foot and judge his recovery.

"For the past three weeks he has experienced very little pain," Holmgren said. "And then they've kind of stressed it a little bit and having him cut and do some of those things to see how that reacts. And it's my understanding that they're going to let him test this in practice because he does not feel any pain."

Seattle lost three of the first four games Alexander missed, and the Seahawks running game slowed to a crawl. It has picked up speed the past two weeks, though, and Maurice Morris rushed for more than 100 yards each of the past two games, both Seahawk victories.

Seattle holds a two-game division lead over St. Louis (4-5) and San Francisco (4-5) and the Seahawks are guaranteed a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over St. Louis because they beat the Rams twice this season.

Quarterback Seneca Wallace has passed for five touchdowns in his three starts. Does all that give Holmgren a cushion in his timeline for returning Hasselbeck and Alexander?

"I've been very pleased with how Seneca has played and how Mo' has played," Holmgren said. "They've done a great job for us, but when Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck can play, they're going to play. And it has nothing to do with where we are in our division, our league or whatever."

Hasselbeck practiced briefly last Friday and was at team headquarters on Monday for a workout. Hasselbeck is recovering from a sprained knee ligament, and Holmgren said that Hasselbeck's mobility will be the key in determining the timeline for his return.

NOTES

• LB D.D. Lewis missed his fourth game because of a toe injury. Holmgren said he will undergo more tests on the injury.

• DT Marcus Tubbs is out for the season. He was placed on injured reserve on Saturday because of a knee injury that will require surgery.