Alexander protects ‘boo-boo’

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Seattle running back Shaun Alexander has been practicing this week with a castlike protective device covering his left thumb and wrist and expects to start for the Seahawks at Arizona on Sunday.

Alexander, slowed by injuries since winning the league Most Valuable Player award and setting an NFL record for touchdowns during the 2005 season, was vague about his latest health issue and downplayed it by laughing and calling it a “boo-boo” Thursday.

When asked if he had a hand or wrist injury, Alexander laughed as he often does.

“Dude, it’s everything,” he said after practicing for the second consecutive day with the hard, black device that appeared to be a cast. “No, it’s just football. We’re just making sure that we’re OK.”

When asked if the device was a cast or just a wrist guard, Alexander said: “It’s just a thing we made up. A boo-boo, with a boo-boo protector. Sounds great.”

The injury apparently happened in last Sunday’s season-opening 20-6 win over Tampa Bay in which he rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown. That left him three scores short of becoming the eighth running back to have 100 in a career.

When asked if he was hit on the hand or wrist by an opponent, Alexander laughed again and said, “Good question. It’s the weirdest thing. It is what it is.”

Alexander severely bruised his foot in last season’s opener. After playing on it for two more games, the foot became cracked, causing him to miss six games and rush for 896 yards in the regular season. It was the first season of less than 1,000 yards since he became Seattle’s feature back in 2001.