Seahawks RB Penny ‘seriously’ injures left ankle

NEW ORLEANS — Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll mentioned operating again Rashaad Penny “significantly” injured his left ankle Sunday and may have a tough time returning this season.

“I do not wish to make any statements as a result of I do not actually know precisely but till they get all of the MRIs and stuff, however he is obtained a foul ankle [injury],” Carroll mentioned. “He is in bother getting again.”

Penny, who broke out late final season after an injury-filled begin to his profession, went down on the finish of a carry within the third quarter of the Seahawks’ 39-32 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He hobbled to the Seahawks’ bench with help from somebody on both aspect of him, unable to place weight on his left leg. Earlier than he was carted into the locker room, Penny was hanging his head whereas being tended to by the staff physician and head athletic coach.

“He is crushed,” Carroll mentioned.

Penny carried eight occasions for 54 yards Sunday earlier than his harm. After he went down, rookie second-round Ken Walker broke free for a 69-yard landing run that briefly gave Seattle a one-point lead within the fourth quarter.

Penny’s newest harm comes after his emergence as one of many NFL’s most efficient operating backs. He led the league with 671 dashing yards over the ultimate 5 video games of final season, which was 208 greater than anybody else in that span. After a quiet begin to 2022, he exploded for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries final week in a efficiency that was paying homage to his late-season surge.

Earlier than that breakout, Penny’s profession had been marred by an extended listing of accidents. The twenty seventh total decide in 2018, he missed 30 of a doable 69 video games (together with playoffs) as a consequence of harm over his first three seasons. That included a torn ACL on 2019 that sidelined him for a lot of 2021.

Penny has talked overtly about how a lot his accidents have weighed on him, saying not too long ago that he returned to Seattle this offseason partially as a result of he felt he owed it to the Seahawks given on a regular basis he had missed. The Seahawks introduced Penny again on a one-year, $5.75 million deal that included greater than $5 million in ensures.

“This has been a journey for him, and for us too,” Carroll mentioned. “We simply fell in love with the truth that he emerged and confirmed us the good participant that he’s and what he can imply to the sport and to our staff and all that … He’ll be again, he’ll be again. However it’s a setback that simply breaks my coronary heart as a result of he is simply been having a lot enjoyable and he is been so rewarded and so fulfilled in that he is aware of he belongs and he is aware of he can do it and he is aware of he will be an influence [player] on this league. So to lose that likelihood, it is just like type of when Jamal [Adams] goes out. These guys, they put a lot into it and so they care a lot about it after which to have it taken away due to a mishap, it is unlucky. So we will love him via it.”

With Travis Homer on injured reserve (ribs) for a minimum of two extra video games and Penny now out, the Seahawks are right down to Walker and DeeJay Dallas at operating again, in order that they’ll should make an addition there. And so they’ll have to show to Walker to paved the way.

With Penny’s lengthy harm historical past and starter Chris Carson’s retiring this offseason as a consequence of a neck harm, they bolstered their backfield by drafting Walker with the forty first total decide. He missed the opener whereas recovering from a mid-August hernia process and rushed for 58 yards on 15 makes an attempt over his first three video games. Two extra would-be carries had been ruined when Walker went the incorrect approach to take the handoff.

“I am prepared,” he mentioned. “We apply it each day. I really feel actual comfy with the offense. I’ve obtained older operating backs in there to show me all the pieces I must know, so I really feel actual comfy within the scheme.”

Walker completed Sunday with 88 yards on eight carries.

After seeing what the rookie was able to on this recreation, Carroll mentioned he thinks Walker is prepared for the subsequent step.

“He is able to roll,” Carroll mentioned. “He’ll have extra to be taught and there is much more coming at him. However he definitely confirmed all people the explosion that he has and the potential that is there. He is a incredible younger man developing, so that is his time.”

Defensive sort out Al Woods (knee) and receiver Penny Hart (hamstring) had been unable to complete the sport as a consequence of accidents. The one replace Carroll had on both was that Woods’ knee “flared up.”