Hawks' Alexander jukes on the field, jokes off it

KIRKLAND — Seven weeks and three days since the last time he played football, one thing is very clear about Shaun Alexander.

The Seahawks running back and reigning NFL most valuable player hasn't lost his sense of humor.

"Ow! You stepped on my toe!" Alexander playfully told reporters after Wednesday's practice.

That toe, or fourth metatarsal of Alexander's left foot, to be exact, has been the subject of plenty of conversation among Seattle sports fans since a New York Giant landed on it and caused a crack Sept. 24.

Alexander practiced for the first time Wednesday since suffering his injury. He looked spry, running well during team drills and high-stepping and zig-zagging in individual drills.

Alexander said he's excited to be back to practicing — even though he's listed as questionable for Sunday's game at San Francisco — but not anxious about being cleared. Coach Mike Holmgren will make that call Friday.

"I am not an anxious person. I tell people that all the time," Alexander said. "I was always taught zeal without knowledge is foolishness. Me wanting to play and knowing I had a cracked foot would be foolish to go out there ... I had a cracked foot, I have to do what it takes to get back, and when it does I'm going to make up for lost time."

Alexander got a set of X-rays taken Tuesday. But the Seahawks are now basing their decision to play Alexander less on what tests reveal and more on how he feels. That's a departure from the team's approach since the injury was discovered.

"They [team trainers] just feel like now it's ready," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "It's been long enough, and if he is not experiencing any pain, I suppose eventually there will be no little crack. It's come down to the fact that it's been, they feel, a sufficient amount of time not to put him at risk as long as he feels good."

Alexander split snaps in Wednesday's practice with Maurice Morris, who has started the past six games in Alexander's absence. Even if Alexander is cleared, which seems likely, he won't play the entire game, Holmgren said.

Alexander maintained that he has felt good enough to play since two days after the injury happened, but the crack in the bone was still there.

The Seahawks hope Alexander feels little more than soreness today, and if so the plan is to keep him practicing throughout the week.

During his recovery, he has been able to spend time with his family and hear his 3-year-old daughter Heaven keep him updated on his condition through media reports.

So does Alexander believe in that "Madden" video game curse, the one in which NFL players pictured on the cover of the game seem to always suffer misfortune the year they are featured?

"It's two things," Alexander said. "One, I believe that whoever is on the cover of 'Madden' is obviously one of the guys in the NFL, and everybody just takes extra shots at him."

Alexander felt that happened after he saw tape of the play on which he got hurt.

"And then I do believe that words are powerful. If enough people are always saying Shaun Alexander is going to get hurt, I think that anything's possible."

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