Alexander will not play until healthy

Running back Shaun Alexander will not play for the Seattle Seahawks until he’s healthy enough to practice full time.

“We had a talk, and I told him until he can practice the whole week, until he can have a normal week of practice I’m not going to put him on the field,” Coach Mike Holmgren said after Friday’s practice, which Alexander watched.

“I tried to explain that running backs . . . you need to be able to do what you do, and if you’re worried about an injury or something is sore and you can’t make your cuts, you’re really open to more injury. I’m not going to put him on the field until he can do what he does. He appreciated that.”

Holmgren wouldn’t officially say Alexander is “out” for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, but he did say that backup Maurice Morris would start for the second week in a row.

--

Atlanta Falcons Coach Bobby Petrino declined to say whether Byron Leftwich or Joey Harrington would start at quarterback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .

“I thought they both looked good,” Petrino said. “Byron was moving around and had no ill effects from practice the last two days, so that was good to see.”

Petrino did say he won’t wait until Sunday to tell his players who will start.

With Leftwich able to practice three days in a row, he’s likely to start. Petrino reiterated earlier this week that Leftwich is still No. 1 on the depth chart even though he sat out the last two games because of an ankle injury.

--

Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas won’t play Sunday at Philadelphia, the fifth game he will have sat out since a concussion in September. The seven-time Pro Bowl player said earlier this week he hopes to return this season.

Thomas sat out two games in September. In October, he was involved in a car crash after a loss to the New England Patriots. He suffered whiplash and recurring migraines and has not played in Miami’s last two games.

--

Houston Texans running back Ahman Green won’t play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints because of a swollen left knee. Coach Gary Kubiak was optimistic early in the week that rest during the team’s week off would allow Green to play. Kubiak said he wasn’t sure how long Green would be out. Ron Dayne will start in his place.

--

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde will start Sunday for the Carolina Panthers against the Green Bay Packers. Coach John Fox chose the 44-year-old Testaverde over a healthy David Carr, but declined to name him the permanent starter for the Panthers. Both Carr and Testaverde are 1-2 this season as the starter.

--

New York Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce returned to practice after sitting out two days because of a mild concussion. He was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, as was wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who has been bothered by a sprained right ankle all season.