But after going through a full practice Wednesday for the first time since their fourth game, Hasselbeck got clearance from team doctors that night, practiced on Thursday and will start Sunday's game.

Hasselbeck said the specialist that he went to see in Los Angeles initially told him he might not play again this season based on the examinations he did at first.

But Hasselbeck said he has rehabbed diligently and has gotten to the point that the bulging disc in his back is no longer creating weakness in his leg - or at least not to the degree that it did five weeks ago.

Hasselbeck's return may not mark the entire turnaround of the Seahawks' season, given they are 2-7 and four games behind the Cardinals in the NFC West.

But it does provide a scintilla of hope in a year that has been derailed by multiple injuries.

"I think it's been frustrating for everybody," Hasselbeck said. "It's just how the year's gone. We have a lot of good player that are just not on the field. We are 2-7. We are not used to that."

Hasselbeck does get back one of his primary receivers, starting flanker Deion Branch, who has played only one half of one game this year and, like Hasselbeck, went through his first full practice since getting injured against the New York Giants in Week 5.

Branch returned from ACL surgery only to have his heel stepped on twice by Giants defensive backs, sending him back to the training room for more rehab.

"I'm feeling real good," Branch said. "This is probably the best I've felt since I have been out. It's been rough. I have been out a long time. I still haven't been able to help my team win and we have taken a couple of losses."

If Branch can remain healthy this game - and that is a big if - he should help Hasselbeck improve his career-low 57.7 passer rating.

Branch will start at flanker opposite split end Koren Robinson, with Bobby Engram playing his natural position in the slot and either Jordan Kent or newly activated Courtney Taylor manning the fourth receiver spot.

SERIES HISTORY: 19th meeting. Series is tied 9-9, with the teams splitting two games last year. However, the Seahawks should have swept the series but were denied when Shaun Alexander botched a handoff exchange late in the fourth quarter.