Redskins release Alexander

Banged up on the defensive line and with their top two running backs healthy, the Washington Redskins released Shaun Alexander on Tuesday.

Alexander, the 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks, didn’t get on the field Sunday in his return to Seattle. In four games, he carried 11 times for 24 yards and caught one pass for 9 yards.

Washington signed defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti, who was on the team’s active roster or practice squad from 2004 to the end of this year’s training camp, to take Alexander’s spot on the roster. Defensive linemen Andre Carter and Kedric Golston sustained foot injuries against Seattle, Anthony Montgomery (Achilles) has missed the past two games and Cornelius Griffin is battling a shoulder injury.

In four seasons since making the team as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA, Boschetti played in 19 regular-season games and one playoff game, posting 17 tackles.

The Redskins signed Alexander when backup running back Ladell Betts injured his knee, which kept him out of three games. Betts returned against Dallas on Nov. 16 and played a larger role against Seattle, carrying the ball five times and scoring a touchdown before fumbling late in the fourth quarter.

After entering as a question mark, Clinton Portis carried a season-high 29 times against Seattle.