Seahawks lose a TD and CB Jeremy Lane on same first-quarter play

GREEN BAY, Wisc. – Jeremy Lane’s altercation with Packers receiver Davante Adams didn’t cost the Seahawks a first-quarter touchdown.

That was Cliff Avril, whose block in the back of quarterback Aaron Rodgers nullified what would have been a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown by rookie Nazair Jones after the Packers had driven to the Seattle 32 on their opening drive.

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That doesn’t mean the penalty against Lane was meaningless, however. Seattle’s cornerback was ejected in the sixth minute of the first quarter, referee John Parry announcing Lane had thrown a punch. Television replays didn’t capture a punch, but showed Adams first grabbing Lane’s facemask and Lane responded by jumping on top of Adams.

Lane was not available after the game for a comment on his ejection.

Coach Pete Carroll only briefly saw a replay of the fracas after the game.

“I didn’t see the punch at all,” Carroll said. “I’m disappointed that the play would have such magnitude on the game. … I’m not talking even about bringing the touchdown back, I’m talking about ejecting the guy.”

The penalty that kept points off the board was assessed against Avril, officials ruling he had shoved Rodgers in the back as he pursued Jones. Instead of a 7-0 lead, the Seahawks had the ball at midfield and punted away after failing to gain a first down.

Lane started at right cornerback, and he was replaced by Shaquill Griffin with Lonnie Coleman entering the game when Seattle used five defensive backs. Griffin was singled out after the game by Carroll for the way he rose to the occasion.

“I thought he played a great football game for his first game out,” Carroll said. “I thought everything he did was well done. Really fired up about that. It will help us. He got challenged. They went after him, and he stood up to it play after play.”

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