Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, the league MVP, has a broken left foot and will be sidelined at least two weeks.
Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday a bone scan revealed Alexander suffered a “small crack” and “displaced fracture” on a nonweight- bearing bone in his foot sometime during the Seahawks’ 42-30 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. Alexander ran for 47 yards on 20 carries while wearing new shoes and orthotic inserts before sitting out the fourth quarter.
“You lose the MVP for a while, it’s a hit,” Holmgren said. “Let’s face it, he’s the MVP. We’re not going to sugarcoat it.”
Maurice Morris will start Sunday night at Chicago.
Buccaneers: Chris Simms, who remained hospitalized after undergoing emergency surgery Sunday to have his spleen removed, is expected to make a full recovery, although coach Jon Gruden has not ruled out the quarterback sitting out the rest of the season.
“My information tells me that potentially he is out for the season because of the injury of this magnitude,” Gruden said. “To do the right thing, it might not be wise to ask him to come back in week 13 or 14. Those are thoughts that are in my mind, to make sure this man heals correctly and has a chance to play at full speed like he’s capable of playing.”
In the meantime, rookie Bruce Gradkowski becomes the starter, with Tim Rattay the backup.
Chiefs: Quarterback Trent Green, recovering from a severe concussion, will not play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Bengals: Coach Marvin Lewis expects middle linebacker Odell Thurman to be suspended for the rest of the season after his arrest early Monday on a drunken driving charge.
Thurman, already serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, could get an additional one-year suspension from the league. Receivers Chris Henry and Reggie McNeal were passengers in the sport utility vehicle Thurman was driving, but were not charged. Police said Thurman registered 0.18 percent on a blood alcohol test, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
“I am not pleased,” Lewis said. “It’s not right, it’s not what we stand for, it’s not what the National Football League should represent.”
Cardinals: Barring a change of heart overnight, Arizona is expected to start quarterback Matt Leinart on Sunday against the Falcons in Atlanta, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
“I don’t talk personnel on Monday,” coach Dennis Green said. “We’ll start looking at things and have a staff meeting and take it from there.”
Rams: Defensive end Anthony Hargrove, who skipped two days of practice and meetings last week while dealing with personal issues, was reinstated.
Coach Scott Linehan said Hargrove was hit with a “pretty substantial fine” and would have to earn his way back up the depth chart. Rookie Victor Adejanyu started Sunday at Arizona. He will get another start this week against the Detroit Lions.
49ers: Running back Frank Gore is expected to return this week despite leaving Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with a strained muscle in his abdomen.
Chargers: Kicker Nate Kaeding signed a six-year contract through 2012.
Vikings: Rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson had minor knee surgery to repair his meniscus. He will miss about a month.
