Notebook | Seahawks' Deion Branch nearing end of long comeback trail

RENTON — The long road back has been arduous, even emotional at times, for Seahawks receiver Deion Branch. And still he hasn't reached its end.

Wednesday was a step in the right direction, though. Branch put on pads and helmet, did some running and caught balls from a machine, finally getting on the field with teammates in practice for the first time since January.

Branch didn't really practice, but he was happy to be there in uniform instead of off to the side running, which he had been doing since training camp started as part of his rehabilitation from surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee in February.

Branch was injured in a playoff game in Green Bay. He had surgery a few weeks later and the original timeline for his recovery was nine months. Sunday, it will be seven months since the surgery, and it seemed that Branch was on track for an earlier comeback, perhaps as soon as this week.

Branch was asked about that.

"Uh, it's up in the air. That's up to Coach," he said.

Is he still holding out hope for playing Sunday when the Seahawks open the season at Buffalo? "Yeah. The only thing I'm doing is I'm going to run around, feel my way through things and they have to make the decision."

Would he want to play on the knee?

"If I could, yeah, I want to. If I could."

Has he been running routes?

"I've been running. I've been doing a little bit more than what you all have probably seen."

Branch said doctors removed a piece of his patellar tendon and made it into his new anterior cruciate ligament. He said he'd had injuries to his right leg and might have been overcompensating with his left leg when the injury happened, but didn't blame it on the snowy field conditions in Green Bay.

Branch has yet to pass a physical. It's unclear how much he will practice this week, but the less he does, the less of a chance he has to play in Buffalo.

"The doctors feel very good about his progress," coach Mike Holmgren said. "But he has to, in his own mind, feel as though he can do the things he needs to do to be effective. The next big hurdle, I would say, is up to him."

Branch is in running shape but still has to get into football shape. Yet all he has to do is think of his son, Deiondre, who was diagnosed with viral meningitis in 2002 six days after being born and cannot walk.

"Compared to what he's going through, it's nothing. So the mental part isn't it," Branch said. "Once I step on the football field, I'm ready to go. I'm not going to be worried about my knee and all my other stuff. I'll be ready to go."

Practice report

Linebacker Lofa Tatupu did not take part in the team portion of practice Wednesday but said his bruised knee will be "OK." Holmgren said he expects Tatupu to "play great" on Sunday.

Right tackle Sean Locklear and defensive end Baraka Atkins did not practice. Locklear, a starter, isn't likely to play this week because of a sprained left knee suffered in the exhibition game against Chicago.

"If we were playing in the Super Bowl, I think Locklear would suit up and have a shot at playing," Holmgren said. "I'm not sure we'd be doing the right thing by pushing him into action [Sunday]. But he's doing fine, and he is improving."

Notes

• In light of the Seahawks' scarcity of wide receivers, Holmgren was asked if backup QB Seneca Wallace could be used. "We're always ready to stick him in in an emergency," he said.

• It's anyone's guess who will return kicks. Nate Burleson was the punt returner and part-time kickoff returner last season, but now is a starting receiver. He might still end up with the roles, even though Holmgren mentioned Wallace, CB Marcus Trufant and RB Maurice Morris. CB Josh Wilson returned kicks last season and also is a possibility.

• Holmgren said the team elected six captains for the season — QB Matt Hasselbeck and LT Walter Jones for offense, S Deon Grant and Tatupu for defense and LBs Lance Laury and D.D. Lewis on special teams.