Pack Down Hawks
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.
By: Staff Writers – Email Us
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