Seahawks’ Brown goes down
After playing in considerable pain last year, Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown had done everything possible to prepare for his 12th NFL season. His off-season work was evident as he went full throttle day after day at training camp.
But there is no way to prevent bad luck and unfortunate timing. On a seemingly innocuous play during a 7-on-7 drill Monday morning, Brown crashed to the ground in obvious pain, pounding his fist on the grass as trainers rushed to his side and silence fell over the field.
Brown suffered a broken fibula, apparently near his left ankle. The fibula is the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg that run from the knee to the ankle. He’s expected to miss about eight weeks, which means he could return by Seattle’s fifth game, against New England on Oct. 17. Seattle’s bye falls on week 4 (Oct. 3).
“The plan is to operate as soon as possible,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “They talk about typically an eight-week recovery so he’s going to be with us, hopefully before the season is over, and he’ll play some football this year.”
Brown, 34, was covering tight end Itula Mili near the line of scrimmage when their legs became entangled. Trainers quickly placed an air cast on Brown’s leg and within minutes he exited the field on the back of a cart.
“It looked on film that he caught the cleat on the back of Itula’s shoe in trying to cover him,” Holmgren said. “Itula had a little scrape in his Achilles’ area from Chad’s cleat. Their feet got tangled up and that just happens. It’s too bad, he’s worked very, very hard and he’s had a great camp, but I believe he’ll still have a great season.”
Isaiah Kacyvenski, who started at middle linebacker two years ago, replaced Brown on the first unit. Kacyvenski, a fifth-year pro from Harvard, moved to outside linebacker last season. D.D. Lewis would normally replace Brown, but he’s been out of practice rehabilitating his surgically repaired shoulder. Lewis is trying to regain strength in his shoulder and Holmgren said the third-year pro from Texas might return to practice next week.
“At this point in camp it’s really tough,” outside linebacker Anthony Simmons said. “Right now guys are beaten down, you’re tired, you’re ready to go home and see your family. When something like this happens, it takes the wind out of your sails a little bit.
“He was doing pretty well in camp and we’re all feeling great about the season. Hopefully he’s not out long. It’s just one of those things.”
Brown hurt his right foot midway through the 2002 season. He underwent surgery, but problems still persisted last season. He played in 14 games but rarely practiced during the week. He told reporters earlier in training camp that his foot was better, but not completely healed.
“I feel bad for Chad,” Kacyvenski said. “He struggled last year with his foot and he wanted to make sure coming in he didn’t have to worry about it at all. He was a man on a mission.”
Kacyvenski will step into the starting role with Tracy White also available and eventually Lewis. Holmgren said there are no immediate plans to pursue a free-agent linebacker.
“I was kind of tossed into the fire that year (2002),” Kacyvenski said. “I’m going into my fifth year now and I can settle down and play and still play with a lot of intensity.”
Run-down feeling
Holmgren wasn’t tickled with Seattle’s run defense Saturday, but he wasn’t overly alarmed by Denver’s 206 rushing yards.
“I’d be more concerned if they gained 150 yards in the first half,” Holmgren said. “I think they had 42.”
Added Holmgren: “They have a unique blocking scheme and they are very good at rushing the football. I think they wanted that game a little more than we did. They spent a lot of time working on us for that game. It should work for you if you do that in the preseason.”
Lucas corners job
Holmgren affirmed what had become obvious through the first few weeks of camp: Ken Lucas has earned a starting cornerback job _ for now. Lucas has been solid throughout camp and an expected challenge from veteran Bobby Taylor hasn’t materialized. Taylor has missed quite a bit of practice with a sore knee.
“He has had his best training camp ever,” Holmgren said of Lucas. “He hasn’t lost the position; he’s grabbed it. I’ve said this all along; the third guy is going to play a whole lot. Bobby has been hurt, Kenny has played well and we’re just going to go with the obvious.”
Notes
Guard Steve Hutchinson (strained calf) played in Saturday’s game, but didn’t practice Monday. Another spectator was No. 2 running back Maurice Morris, who suffered a quad contusion Saturday. … Receiver Koren Robinson, working his way into shape after being sidelined earlier in camp with a sore hip, was back with the No. 1 unit Monday. Robinson had a 45-yard reception against the Broncos. … It was just 57 degrees for Monday’s morning session, the coldest day of camp. Seattle breaks camp after Wednesday’s morning practice. Today is the final two-a-day session.