Two more weeks minus Alexander?

KIRKLAND — The seemingly ever-changing timeline for the return from injury of the NFL's 2005 Most Valuable Player was adjusted yet again Monday.

Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks running back expected to be back from a cracked bone in his left foot as soon as this Sunday, will likely miss another two weeks as the injury continues to heal.

"It will probably be a week-to-week thing," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "It's unlikely he'll be ready to go. In fact, he probably won't be ready to go this week."

Holmgren said he and Alexander met Monday, and Alexander told Holmgren he is eager to come back and thinks he can practice.

The Seahawks' medical staff feels otherwise. The crack is healing on schedule, according to Alexander's most recent bone scan, but the team wants to play it safe. Alexander was in the locker room Monday with no protective brace or boot — in fact only a flip-flop — on his foot.

The ever-positive Alexander is fine with his progress.

"The X-rays were very great. You want the bones to look good," Alexander said. "Healing is great. Pain is gone. Everything is really, really good, so now we just play in the game.

"If we get a wild hair, you all could see me [this week]. Now we just play the game and when the coaches say yes, then we go."

Alexander has been doing upper-body workouts but no running yet in his rehabilitation, Holmgren said.

"Even though some players are known as fast healers on different types of injuries, this, the bone really has to knit, and the crack has to knit," Holmgren said. "In Shaun's case, because he's a running back and because we can't afford to have him reinjure that if we can avoid it, we're kind of going to err on the side of caution, I'm sure."

Alexander said the worst of his pain is long gone, even as far back as a day after the injury was discovered after the Seahawks-New York Giants game in Week 3.

"Now we just have to get my foot ready to run again," Alexander said.

Until Alexander returns, possibly when the Seahawks play at Kansas City on Oct. 29, Maurice Morris will continue on as the starter.

Morris rushed for 70 of his 74 yards in the second half Sunday at St. Louis, though he fumbled late in the game.

"He played like I expect him to play," Holmgren said of Morris. "He made a couple of very nice catches. He made a beautiful pickup and blocked two guys on one play. He can do those things.

"Then, when we gave him a chance to run in the second half, I thought he did a good job. He's sore [Monday], but it's a good sore, I think, if you were to ask him. Until Shaun comes back, Mo's our halfback."

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