KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) -Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck ran and threw on his sprained knee while leading the scout team through 7-on-7 drills, one day after league MVP Shaun Alexander tested his broken left foot by running through cones and cutting on synthetic grass.

So far, it's all a tease.

Coach Mike Holmgren still doesn't expect to see his stars play until at least Nov. 19 at San Francisco, if then. And Hasselbeck said Friday he still has ``no stability'' in the knee.

Still, Holmgren thought the last two days were significant steps for the Seahawks (5-3), who host St. Louis (4-4) on Sunday with first place in the NFC West at stake and backup quarterback Seneca Wallace starting again.

``It's huge. You get your quarterback back ... no matter how well Seneca has played, it's important,'' Holmgren said. ``And the other guy is the MVP of the league. There's a lot of money sitting in that training room, you know.''

It's $31.1 million in guaranteed cash, to be exact - part of contracts potentially worth a combined $111.4 million that each has signed within the last two years.

Hasselbeck wore a black, lightweight brace over his heavily taped knee, which he occasionally appeared to drag with him as he moved through agility drills and dropped back to pass. He also looked winded and red-faced at times.

``Health-wise, I felt great. Performance-wise, I've got some work to do to get back out there,'' Hasselbeck said after throwing eight passes against Seattle's starting defense during red-zone drills.

Afterward, Holmgren said, ``We're thinking he could play next week.''

Hasselbeck sprained the medical collateral ligament in his right knee Oct. 22 when Minnesota's E.J. Henderson rolled into the bottom of his leg following an incomplete pass.

Friday, he completed three of his first four throws. Defensive coordinator John Marshall then bellowed to his starters, ``Men, we've got to better than those last few plays!''

Yet, Hasselbeck said that his body ``just could not get the ball there today.'' He lamented being late throwing to a wide-open Bobby Engram, who is slowing coming back himself from a thyroid condition and may also return next week.

Hasselbeck's throw on the deep post route was so late, safety Jordan Babineaux was able to recover and break up the pass.

``It's a good first step. I anticipate it healing up a lot more each day and hopefully being ready to get back real soon,'' Hasselbeck said. ``I didn't hurt myself.''

Gearing for the 49ers game?

``I'm gearing for each DAY,'' he said.

Team trainer Sam Ramsden is giving Hasselbeck daily goals, such as running in a swimming pool, 45 minutes riding an exercise bike and striding on a treadmill or elliptical trainer. Hasselbeck said the running in the swimming pool ``didn't go so well.''

``The next step probably for me will be to trying to run with some change of direction,'' Hasselbeck said. ``So, we'll see.''

Hasselbeck said he's been able to remain a compliant patient during his rehabilitation because Wallace has played so well. In Wallace's first two NFL starts, he was 33-for-60 passing for 374 yards with four touchdown passes and two interceptions. Seattle is 1-1 in those starts and 2-3 without Alexander.

``If the quarterback wasn't playing well, then I will feel a lot of pressure to somehow find a way to get out there,'' Hasselbeck said.

Alexander rested Friday - one day after his first on-field work since he broke the foot Sept. 24 against the New York Giants.

``He came out of it OK,'' Holmgren said. ``We've got our fingers crossed. Hopefully, we'll get them both back next week.''

Doctors are waiting until there is no crack visible in the bone before clearing Alexander to play. His next round of MRIs and CAT scans is scheduled for Monday.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.