Seahawks Notebook | Receiver Deion Branch happy to get back in the game

The Seahawks' offensive starters were introduced before the game, and when Deion Branch's name was announced to the thousands at Qwest Field, he ran out of the tunnel, dropped to one knee, raised his arms and shouted with joy while waving a towel.

The veteran wide receiver, playing in just his second game of the season because of injuries, was showing his love for the game. And after making it through his first full contest since last season, he was relieved despite the Seahawks' losing 26-20 to the Arizona Cardinals.

He had no hesitation playing on his surgically repaired knee or the bruised heel that he had been dealing with for more than a month.

"It's a great feeling, a bit tainted by the loss, but other than that, my body feels good now," Branch said. "When you start playing timid, that's when you get hurt."

Branch was the Seahawks' leading receiver Sunday with four catches for 54 yards, including a 33-yard play in the third quarter. He was the intended receiver when quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception with two minutes to play that effectively ended the game.

As for his pregame moment, Branch said that was the norm for him. There was extra emotion in it, though, with it being his first game since Oct. 5.

"It was crazy," Branch said. "I know coach [Jim] Mora looked at me and was like, 'Hey, calm down.' It was cool, though. It was great just to be on the field with the guys."

Good game for Warner

The Cardinals broke their five-game losing streak at Qwest Field, and in doing so, quarterback Kurt Warner finally had a top-notch game in Seattle.

Warner had either not played or had struggled in games against the Seahawks since Sept. 10, 2000, when, as a St. Louis Ram, he completed 35 of 47 passes for 386 yards in a victory at Husky Stadium.

In 2005, Warner lasted only a half for the Cardinals at Qwest Field before leaving with a groin injury. In 2006, he was sacked five times in Seattle, and last season he threw five interceptions and was sacked five times.

Sunday was a different story, with Warner finishing 32 of 44 for 395 yards and getting sacked just twice. He threw a touchdown and an interception and lost a fumble, but was for the most part accurate and quick with his throws.

Warner was asked if he exorcised some demons at Qwest Field.

"I know I did," he said. "I've struggled in here before, that's for sure."

Wahle injures shoulder

The Seahawks lost starting left guard Mike Wahle in the second quarter with an unspecified shoulder injury, and Wahle wouldn't comment on it after the game.

Seattle moved Floyd Womack, the starter at right guard, to Wahle's spot for the remainder of the game, and sent Ray Willis in to play on the right side.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Wahle will undergo tests today, and that the injury is to the same shoulder (right) on which Wahle had surgery for a torn labrum in 2006.

Holmgren indicated the injury might be similar to the one that has kept defensive end Patrick Kerney out the past three games.

TDs for T.(J.)D.

Despite totaling just 5 yards on five carries, Seahawks running back T.J. Duckett scored touchdowns on runs of 1 and 2 yards, his team-leading fifth and sixth touchdowns of the season.

"That's my job," he said. "We have so many backs and we all do so many things, that's just the nature of the game. This guy can do that and this guy can do that. If someone goes down, we can all do it all."

The Wilson factor

Cornerback Josh Wilson was thrown at quite a bit during the game and had his problems covering the Cardinals' star receiving tandem of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. But Wilson had a 58-yard interception return and a 56-yard kickoff return, though that was partially negated because of a penalty. He had a chance for another pick earlier in the game, but Fitzgerald grabbed the ball away from Wilson's grasp for a catch.

"I'm starting to get back to college days for me," Wilson said. "It's starting to feel like it's not as much of, 'What's going in the NFL?' It's more of 'Just go out there and play football.' "

Wilson is averaging 25.8 yards per kickoff return and has two interceptions this season. He became the Seahawks' full-time starter at right cornerback in Week 5.

Schmitt's show

Rookie Owen Schmitt started at fullback in place of an injured Leonard Weaver, who missed his second game of the season.

Weaver didn't play in the Philadelphia game two weeks ago because of a foot problem. He came back for the Miami game but injured his ribs. He only practiced last Friday, which wasn't enough to allow him to play.

That gave Schmitt, who smashed his head against his helmet when he was announced during pregame introductions, another start. Schmitt had no carries but caught one pass for 7 yards.

Notes

• Ricky Watters, who played running back for Seattle from 1998 to 2001, raised the 12th Man flag before the game. Singer Kenny Loggins ("Footloose") sang the national anthem.

• The Cardinals can clinch the NFC West division title, their first since 1975, with a win next week and a San Francisco loss. Arizona is 7-3 for the first time since 1977.

• Rookie S Jamar Adams made his Seahawks debut on special teams. He was signed from the practice squad Saturday.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com