Branch had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee on Feb. 7 and has been unavailable to the Seahawks since their playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers in January.

But following several weeks of workouts with the team and the bye week to get healthier, Branch said he would be able to boost Seattle's aching receiving corps.

"I'm feeling good, I'm ready to go," Branch said.

Bobby Engram, the team's leading receiver last season, also was back at practice and could be ready to play against the Giants. But Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren was cautious about saying Engram will be ready, and Engram did not speak to reporters on Monday afternoon.

Branch was not so shy. Despite coming back at least a month earlier than most projected, Branch said he does not place much validity in other people's timelines.

"I think I took the right amount of time to give my leg enough time to heal and for me to actually go out and run and do a couple of things in practice to have the confidence that I could do it."

Branch said he is going to have a couple of teammates hit him practice this week in order to erase any anxiety about the first hit coming in a game situation against New York.

Holmgren said he would not expect Branch to be able to play the entire game, but if he says he is ready to go then he will try to use him as normally as possible.