Cardinals notebook: Wilson plays despite injury, delivers big hit

Adrian Wilson woke up Sunday morning determined to play football.

This may not sound like much unless you consider coach Ken Whisenhunt almost never has players on the field who weren’t able to practice in the days leading up to the game.

So Wilson’s mere presence on the field despite a sore hamstring gave the Cards a jolt.

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Wilson gave the Bills a jolt, too, when he hit quarterback Trent Edwards hard just a moment after Edwards threw for a completion. Edwards fell backward and hit the ground hard, causing a concussion.

He did not return to the game, leaving J.P. Losman to run the Bills’ offense.

Wilson, seeing Edwards motionless on the ground, immediately waved to the Bills’ bench for help.

“It’s a scary situation to see a guy just laying there. … I knew the situation that happened with ‘Q’ (Anquan Boldin) last week.”

Wilson played in third-down situations.

“I was either going to play or they were going to have to try to keep me off the field,” Wilson said.

HANGING ON

Kurt Warner, who suffered six turnovers last week, did everything he could to reinforce the concept of ball security, even in his off hours this past week.

“I was chasing my kids around with two hands on a football, or they were chasing me around. Just trying to work on it anyway I can … Crazy little things at home.

“I just wanted to get it through to my subconscious.”

TERRIFIC DEBUTS

For different reasons, J.J. Arrington and Gabe Watson hadn’t played until Sunday.

Watson has been gradually working his way back from an offseason knee injury.

He figures he played about 15 to 18 snaps, with the biggest one coming early in the fourth quarter, when he helped ice the game.

That’s when he sacked Losman and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Cardinals’ Gerald Hayes with the Cards leading 34-17.

“It feels great,” said Watson, who said he said a prayer just before the sack “to just let me make one big play.”

Arrington simply sat out on the inactive list for the first four games, even though he’d enjoyed a fine preseason.

He caught a key pass to convert a first down in a third-and-13 situation, then ran for 14 yards for another first down, part of the Cards’ 13-play, 78-yard drive for a touchdown in the third quarter.

The drive gave the Cardinals a decisive 31-17 lead.

GREEN INTERCEPTION

Eric Green, who hadn’t gotten an interception since his rookie season three years ago, picked off a Losman pass in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a relief,” said, Green, who has been needled a bit by teammates on the subject. “It’s also a confidence booster. I’m getting greedy. I want more.”

INJURY UPDATE

Cornerback Rod Hood left the game with a groin injury and was unable to return.

That left rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to get extensive time.

Tight end Ben Patrick suffered a knee injury while being tackled. He was in and out of the lineup afterward.

Also, Warner took a few stitches after a blow to the chin on a pass completion to Early Doucet.

EXTRA POINT

Alan Branch, the team’s second-round draft pick last year, was among the Cardinals’ inactive players.