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NEWARK (CBS/AP) ― Gov. Jon S. Corzine was moved out of an intensive care unit Monday after doctors declared him to be no longer in critical condition 11 days after he was badly injured in a car crash.

But Dr. Steven Ross, head of trauma at Cooper University Hospital, said that Corzine would likely be in the hospital for at least a week longer.

Corzine's chief of staff, Tom Shea, said Corzine probably would not resume his duties as governor as long as he is in the hospital. Shea said it was not clear yet whether Corzine would move from the hospital to an inpatient facility, his apartment in Hoboken, the governor's mansion in Princeton, or elsewhere. But Shea said it would be best to have Corzine closer to Trenton.

Corzine was anxious to resume the duties of his job and was already talking with Shea about the state budget and a plan to sell state assets such as the New Jersey Turnpike. But doctors said he still tires easily and that fatigue would continue to be a problem after the governor is able to leave the hospital.

Under the state constitution, it's up to Corzine to decide when to take control of the state government from acting Gov. Richard J. Codey.

Corzine has been hospitalized since the SUV he was riding in crashed on the Garden State Parkway on April 12. Corzine's vehicle, being driven by a state trooper at 91 mph, was clipped by a truck that was swerving to avoid a third vehicle.

Corzine broke his left thigh, 11 ribs, a collarbone and breastbone.

Until Friday, he needed the help of a ventilator to breathe, got his nourishment through a feeding tube and was unable to speak. On Monday, doctors were still treating him preemptively with antibiotics for tracheo-bronchitis.

He underwent three operations on his leg and had tubes inserted in his chest to drain fluid around his lungs and in his back to deliver a local anesthetic to the area around his ribs.

By Monday, he was no longer getting pain drugs intravenously, but was taking pain medication in pill form and getting the narcotic pain drug fentanyl through a patch on his skin. Ross said anyone taking narcotics should not operate heavy machinery or drive.

"We consider the state government and the political machinery of the state of New Jersey to be heavy machinery," Shea said in a news conference in which he and doctors were more jovial than they had been in previous updates on Corzine's condition.

The optimism seemed to reflect the outlook shown by Corzine, who was sitting up in bed with his hands clasped behind his head when Shea entered his room Monday.

"He's not as grouchy as you would expect him to be," said Shea. "Actually, he's fairly even keel."

Doctors said that Corzine was aware that he had been in a car accident. But they said it was not clear that he would remember what happened, adding that trauma victims often cannot recall the accidents that injured them.

Shea and the doctors said they had not asked him about details of the crash and investigators had not either.

His doctors said Corzine was curious about the rehabilitation of his leg, which they say will probably last six months. They hoped that by Tuesday, he might be able to move himself from the side of his bed to a chair and sit there upright for an hour or two. When he walks, it will be with crutches that attach to his forearms.

They said he is so gung-ho that he could run the risk of trying to do too much, too fast.

"He was showing off today," said Dr. Robert Ostrum, who operated on Corzine's leg. "He was showing me he could actually bend his knee."

Corzine has been spending his days reading newspapers, watching TV and chatting with his children, girlfriend and brother. He was able to watch part of the New Jersey Devils NHL playoff game on Sunday, aides said.

Shea is the only staff member who has seen him. Ross said that when Corzine is not talking about state policy with Shea, he's discussing Iraq with him.

The doctors said Corzine, a 60-year-old former investment banker, had eaten a cheeseburger and carrot cake and that he was getting protein-supplemented milkshakes.

"Apparently, he likes chocolate," Ross said.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)