"Cardinals running back Beanie Wells didn't know he was being held out of their game against the Seattle Seahawks game until Sunday, and he was not happy.

"I was pissed," Wells said.

Wells has played with a right-knee injury since Week 6. Coach Ken Whisenhunt made the decision to sit Wells based on how he practiced this week and "where we were in the season."

"Beanie was mad at me because Beanie wanted to play. He's been a warrior all year, playing on one leg, and I just thought, at this point, it was in his best interest not to play. You're torn, because you always have the opportunity for a big play with Beanie in there."

LaRod Stephens-Howling replaced Wells and made his first start of the season. Stephens-Howling gained 93 yards on 21 carries.

"For a guy that's 180 pounds, 5-9, to carry the ball 21 times and get close to 100 yards, that was awesome," Wells said.

Wells missed two games this season, both against Seattle, and finished with 1,047 rushing yards."