LT Russell Okung could potentially be lost for the season
Dec 2, 2011, 11:25 AM | Updated: 4:20 pm
By Liz Mathews
>>>Update (4:15 p.m.): ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that LT Russell Okung is out for the season after suffering a torn pectoral during Thursday night’s game.
Second-year left tackle Russell Okung likely has a torn pectoral muscle and potentially could be lost for the season.
“Well we don’t have the MRI results yet, but he did get hurt and he was really uncomfortable last night after the game,” head coach Pete Carroll said Friday morning during an interview on the Brock & Salk Show on 710 ESPN Seattle.
The team had not received the MRI results by the noon press conference, but Carroll was able to report that Okung has suffered “extensive damage to his pec.” The test results are expected some time this afternoon.
“It was a terrible play that happened,” Carroll said. “He got thrown to the ground by a guy after the play was over, away from the pile. I don’t even know who did it, or care who did it. That guy is responsible for hurting Russell in a really unnecessary situation and hopefully the league will take care of that.”
Eagles’ defensive end Trent Cole is the alleged player responsible for Okung’s injury.
Okung was Seattle’s first round draft pick in 2010, selected sixth overall out of Oklahoma State. He is now the third starting offensive lineman to succumb to a devastating injury this year. Both right tackle James Carpenter and right guard John Moffitt have been placed on the injured reserve with season-ending knee injuries.
Right guard Paul McQuistan replaced Okung at left tackle after the injury and Lemuel Jeanpierre entered the game at right guard. Carroll would not confirm during his press conference on Friday that McQuistan would be Okung’s permanent replacement, if needed.
“I’m really sick for Russell. He’s had a fantastic season and was really going last night,” Carroll said. “Gosh he was playing good last night and now he’s heart broken.
“He sent me a text last night… ‘If you IR me, I’m going to mess you up!'”