KIRKLAND, Wash., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Ricky Watters, the Seattle Seahawks' best offensive player, will miss at least the next four weeks with a right shoulder injury.
Watters suffered the injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. He carried five times for 13 yards before being injured as the Seahawks suffered a 38-14 loss.
Seahawks coach-general manager Mike Holmgren confirmed Monday that Watters will miss a minimum of four weeks.
Watters has started 116 consecutive games, the most among active running backs and second all time to NFL all-time leading rusher Walter Payton (170).
Shaun Alexander, the club's 2000 first-round pick, will start in Watters' place on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Alexander replaced Watters last week and carried 10 times for 18 yards, including a four-yard touchdown run and seven receptions for 66 yards.
The loss of Watters is another blow for Seattle, which has produced just two touchdowns in three games this season. Seattle has been outscored, 65-17 in losing its last two games after opening with a victory at Cleveland.
In three games this season, Watters has been a bright spot, rushing for 191 yards on 38 carries. He also had four catches for 55 yards.
A five-time Pro Bowler, Watters has rushed for 10,516 yards and 77 touchdowns in 142 career games -- 141 starts. He also has 4,196 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns.
Watters, who was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 1991 draft, also has played for Philadelphia in his career. He joined Seattle as a free agent prior to the 1998 season.
