CB Walter Thurmond injures leg in loss to Browns
Oct 23, 2011, 2:31 PM | Updated: Oct 24, 2011, 10:54 am
By Brady Henderson
Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Browns started off with bad news on the injury front for the Seahawks.
Running back Marshawn Lynch was a late scratch after experiencing back spasms during warm-ups. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson threw before the game but didn’t recover enough from a pectoral strain and was ruled out, as expected.
Then, it got worse.
Cornerback Walter Thurmond was taken off the field on a cart after a second-quarter collision with Earl Thomas on a deep pass. Coach Pete Carroll said after the game that Thurmond suffered a cracked fibula and will miss the rest of the season. Thurmond missed most of his senior season at Oregon with a serious knee injury.
Update: Carroll told “Brock and Salk” on Monday that Thurmond could return in four to five weeks unless an MRI reveals damage to his ankle.
His latest injury is particularly troublesome for a secondary that just saw Marcus Trufant, the team’s most experienced cornerback, go on injured reserve. The Seahawks decided against signing a free agent. Pete Carroll expressed confidence last week in rookies Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell, both late-round picks.
Sherman replaced Thurmond on Sunday and made four tackles. Maxwell was inactive.
Carroll indicated that Lynch’s back spasms were a pre-existing condition.
“He’s had an ongoing something or other with his back since he arrived with us, but today it just came up with us right before gametime and he just couldn’t get loose and couldn’t get going,” Carroll said, adding that he was prepared to put Lynch in the game early in the third quarter but said “he had sat too long.”
Leon Washington and Justin Forsett combined for 62 yards on 15 carries.
Safety Kam Chancellor suffered a knee bruise but returned to the game. The Seahawks were playing without center Max Unger (foot) and tight end Zach Miller (concussion).