Notebook | Branch sprains foot, but his status is uncertain

PITTSBURGH — The Seahawks will never know if having a healthy Deion Branch for all of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers would have changed the outcome of their 21-0 loss.

That's the least of their worries.

The real concern is Branch's sprained right foot, which he hurt early in the second quarter and led to him being carted for examination. There was no status report on Branch after the game, but coach Mike Holmgren said he'll know more today.

Branch had two catches for 14 yards before his exit. After the game, he said he didn't want to talk about his injury and left the locker room wearing a protective plastic boot.

Seattle also lost fullback Mack Strong to a pinched nerve in the lower neck. Strong didn't return and was replaced by Leonard Weaver for the last three quarters. More on Strong's status will be known today after some tests, Holmgren said.

"It's tough," Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "A big part of our package this week was four wides [receivers]. We have to handle that. I have to do a better job of handling that. It's just part of the deal."

Branch's exit opened the door for second-year pro Ben Obomanu to see the most extensive action of his career. Obomanu had several balls thrown his way, catching two for 38 yards. He also made his debut as a full-time kickoff returner with three for 66 yards.

"You hate to see anyone go down," Obomanu said. "I tried to go out there and do what was asked of me, and hopefully I did a decent job even if we didn't come out with the victory."

Obomanu missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury.

Tough crowd

Someone from the Heinz Field crowd spit on Branch as he was exiting the field on the cart, and Branch pointed out the fan who did it to stadium security.

"You wouldn't think anybody would spit and stuff," Branch said. "Especially on the players. That's the last thing you want to do to somebody."

A close call

Hasselbeck isn't one to hide his feelings, and he looked miffed about a late hit he suffered in the second quarter from Steelers safety Anthony Smith.

It happened on the Seahawks' last drive of the first half. Hasselbeck delivered a pass to tight end Marcus Pollard downfield, then had his legs rolled into by Smith after the throw.

When the two got up, they exchanged words. Hasselbeck was doing most of the talking, but after the game he said he wasn't so mad.

"I just said you almost ended my season," Hasselbeck said. "I wasn't angry necessarily, I just kind of dodged a bullet there."

Hasselbeck missed four games last season after Minnesota linebacker E.J. Henderson hit his knee in a game at Qwest Field.

Hasselbeck was pulled from the game Sunday with 7:10 to play and replaced by Seneca Wallace. It was by far Hasselbeck's worst game this season, completing 13 of 27 passes for 116 yards. He also threw one interception.

Two knowns and an unknown

The Seahawks knew what Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Willie Parker were capable of, and the two shined Sunday. Then there was running back Najeh Davenport, who rushed for 58 yards and caught four passes for 38.

Davenport's day included a 45-yard run that set up the first touchdown of the game. He scored the Steelers' two touchdowns after that.

"Anytime I'm the third-down back and they need a quick checkdown or something like that, or if it's third-and-long and he [Roethlisberger] just happens to dump the ball to me, I'm trying to go for the 15 yards," Davenport said.

Hobbs' NFL debut

Seahawks cornerback Kevin Hobbs played in his first NFL game and contributed on special teams with a tackle and forced fumble, which Pittsburgh recovered. Hobbs was signed from the practice squad last week.

"It felt good finally getting the chance to actually play with my teammates, not just practice with them," Hobbs said.

NOTES

• The Arizona Cardinals' victory Sunday over St. Louis puts them in a tie for first place in the NFC West with the Seahawks at 3-2, but Arizona has the tiebreaker advantage for now with a head-to-head victory over Seattle.

• For the Seahawks, RB Maurice Morris, LB Will Herring and DT Rocky Bernard played despite missing some practice time last week.

• The Seahawks were whistled for four penalties, tying a season high, and three of those were false starts.

• DE Ellis Wyms got his first sack as a Seahawk in the third quarter.

• Long snapper Derek Rackley, who struggled with his snaps last week, didn't appear to have any major issues Sunday.

• Nate Washington replaced injured Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward at receiver and caught three passes for 26 yards for the Steelers.

Seattle Times reporter Danny O'Neil contributed

to this report.