Dyson likely out for rest of year with ankle sprain
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Andre Dyson will likely miss the final four games of the regular season with a high ankle sprain, leaving the Seattle Seahawks almost desperately thin at cornerback.
Coach Mike Holmgren left open the possibility of Dyson returning for the playoffs, for which the NFC leaders and West division champions (10-2) are already qualified.
“How long the injury goes, we have to cross that bridge,” Holmgren said.
Dyson sprained the left ankle during Monday night’s 42-0 rout at Philadelphia when he was tackled at the goal line at the end of Dyson’s 25-yard fumble return for Seattle’s final touchdown.
Dyson, a former Tennessee Titans starter signed as a free agent in April, also returned an interception for a touchdown in the first half. He was the first Seahawk defender since Dave Brown in 1984 to have two scores in a game.
He is the third Seahawks starting defensive back currently out with injuries, joining previous starting left corner Kelly Herndon and safety Ken Hamlin.
A high ankle sprain is a tearing of the ligaments between the tibia and fibula bones in the lower leg. It is more severe than a standard sprain and takes longer to heal.
“After the game, it was feeling to all of us – including Andre – that he had a sprained ankle,” said Holmgren, who said after the win he thought Dyson would be fine.
“But it is a high-ankle sprain. Those are tough injuries … I think it is safe to say he is out for the rest of the regular season, which is four weeks.”
Holmgren stopped short of saying second-year nickel back and part-time safety Jordan Babineaux will make his first career start at left corner Sunday against San Francisco (2-10). The coach added punt returner Jimmy Williams, who wasn’t even on the team until the third week of the regular season, “factors into the mix,” because of the fifth-year veteran’s NFL experience at cornerback.
“Babineaux, logic says he could be (the starter). But we haven’t that decided yet,” Holmgren said.
He added Seattle is looking to sign a free-agent cornerback for depth.
At least Dyson has an honor on which he can rest his ankle for the next month – the league chose Dyson its NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his fantastic Philadelphia night.
“It was bad news today, because he played a great game,” Holmgren said. “We are thin in the secondary, anyway.”
Herndon had been starting ahead of Dyson at left corner before he injured his left knee during Nov. 27’s win over the New York Giants. Wednesday, Holmgren said Herndon will miss at least another two weeks.
Hamlin is already out for the year after fracturing his skull in an Oct. 17 fight outside a bar.
The good news for Seattle is the schedule. After the struggling 49ers offense Sunday, the Seahawks play at Tennessee (3-9).
Then come Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, who are currently unbeaten. But if the Colts lose to either Jacksonville or San Diego, they might rest their starters in Seattle because they are close to clinching home-field advantage in the AFC.