Seattle's Branch injured again, Scobey carted
off on first play
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -Wide receiver Deion
Branch injured his left knee and running back Josh Scobey broke his
left leg in the first quarter of Seattle's 42-20 playoff loss to the
Green Bay Packers on Saturday.
Branch, the former Super Bowl MVP with New
England, will have an MRI exam when the Seahawks return to Seattle,
coach Mike Holmgren said. He returned to practice Wednesday for the
first time since Dec. 26 due to a strained right calf, but was hurt
away from a 7-yard pass play from Matt Hasselbeck to D.J. Hackett
and limped off the field on his own power.
Branch, tied for second on the Seahawks'
roster for most playoff appearances behind Marcus Pollard, arrived
in 2006 via trade after a preseason holdout with the Patriots.
He then signed a $39 million, six-year
contract with the Seahawks that included $13 million in a bonus and
other guarantees, but he spent most of that year trying to catch up
in learning the offense instead of starring.
This season, he's been plagued with
injuries, including a badly sprained right foot that caused him to
miss four games and the strained calf that caused him to miss the
last game of the regular season and Seattle's victory against
Washington last week.
For the season, Branch had 49 catches for
661 yards and four touchdowns.
Scobey broke his left fibula and was
carted off the field on the first play, and Holmgren said the
running back would need surgery for the injury to properly heal.
Scobey was in a walking boot and crutches in the locker room after
the game.
He was on kick coverage and tried to join
the tackle of returner Tramon Williams when Green Bay's Koren
Robinson rolled over the back of his leg.
Scobey immediately reached for the lower
part of his leg, and couldn't get up on his own. He did not try to
walk on the leg, waiting instead with trainers for the cart to be
taken to the locker room.
Scobey signed with Seattle on Dec. 4 after
being released earlier in the year by Buffalo, where he had five
kickoff returns for 112 yards. |