Watters Is Ready for Backup Duty

Seattle Seahawk running back Ricky Watters, sidelined nine weeks because of a shoulder injury, is expected to see action in a backup role Sunday against Denver.

Second-year back Shaun Alexander, the third-leading rusher in the AFC with 981 yards, will remain in the starting lineup.

“I suppose everybody could make a big deal out of who starts and all that, but we need them both to play,” Coach Mike Holmgren said Friday. “I don’t think [who starts] is very important.”

Holmgren said Alexander would not necessarily be the starter for the remainder of the season.

Watters, speaking to the media for the first time since he was injured, said he did not expect to start in his first game back.

“All I can do is come back and show that I’m ready to play the whole game,” Watters said. “That’s the question: whether I can play the whole game and hold up. Initially I said, ‘I’m back, I’m ready to go.’ But I haven’t played a game in nine weeks.”

Watters has rushed for 1,000 or more yards in each of the past six seasons, a streak that will likely end this year.

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Former Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman Erik Williams was arrested on drug charges early Friday.

A Philadelphia Police Department detective said the former player was awaiting arraignment Friday night on misdemeanor drug charges.

Police officers also were attempting to obtain a warrant to search Williams’ sport utility vehicle.

Williams, a Philadelphia native, helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowl titles and played in four Pro Bowls. He was released by the Cowboys in March and signed a one-year deal with Baltimore in August. The Ravens placed him on the reserve-retired list last month.

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Minnesota Viking quarterback Daunte Culpepper said his injured knee has improved a lot and he feels good enough to start against Tennessee on Sunday.

Culpepper struggled in last week’s 21-16 loss at Pittsburgh while playing with a strained ligament in his left knee. Backup Todd Bouman came on in the third quarter and threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Viking Coach Dennis Green won’t announce who will start at quarterback until right before Sunday’s game so the Titans will have to prepare for both.

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The New York Giants probably won’t know until game time whether wide receiver Joe Jurevicius will play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Jurevicius pulled a hamstring in practice Wednesday. Coach Jim Fassel said Thabiti Davis and Ron Dixon would fill in as the Giants’ third receiver if Jurevicius can’t play.

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Seattle Seahawk defensive tackle Chad Eaton was fined $12,500 by the NFL for slamming San Diego quarterback Doug Flutie to the ground in last Sunday’s 13-10 overtime victory over the Chargers. The Seahawks said Friday that Eaton plans to appeal. The fine is the first for Eaton in his six-year career.