Johnson, Hill, Wright injured in Seahawks’ regular-season finale
Dec 28, 2014, 6:28 PM | Updated: 9:38 pm
(AP)
A week off is coming at a good time for Seattle.
The Seahawks earned a first-round bye by virtue of claiming the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and they could really use it given not only how long it’s been since their last break but because of the injuries they sustained in Sunday’s regular-season finale.
There were three of them, the most notable of which was safety Jeron Johnson dislocating his elbow. Coach Pete Carroll said he isn’t sure about a timetable for Johnson’s return nor that of defensive tackle Jordan Hill, who sprained his knee.
Linebacker K.J. Wright dislocated a finger, but he’s expected to be back in time for Seattle’s first playoff game. So is center Max Unger, according to Carroll. Unger has missed Seattle’s last six games because of a high ankle sprain.
All three of Sunday’s injuries occurred in the fourth quarter, first with Johnson’s elbow popping out of place while covering a kickoff following Seattle’s first touchdown.
“Fortunately, it went back together there on the field, and that’s a good thing,” Carroll said. “We don’t have any idea how long that’s going to last for him.”
Hill was able to walk off the field with a noticeable limp after his knee was rolled up on later in the fourth quarter.
“We’ll have to wait and find out what that’s all about,” Carroll said. “The two weeks will really help.”
This is the second straight season in which Seattle earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, and in this case it will be the Seahawks’ first week off since their bye in Week 4. That’s a span of 13 weeks in which Seattle played without a break.
“You want guys to be able to get healthy and get a chance to get their bodies back,” said cornerback Richard Sherman. “Even guys that aren’t totally banged up like that. During this season you get banged up, everybody has a nick or a bruise, nobody’s 100 percent. So it helps guys get their bodies where they need them to be.”