Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has issued a positive update on third-year receiver Cade Johnson after he left the sideline immobilised on a stretcher and was taken to hospital during the 24-13 preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.
The 25-year-old had one carry for two yards and was twice targeted on passes but had no catches before his withdrawal.
Johnson, who signed with Seattle as an undrafted rookie out of South Dakota State in 2021, spent time in the sideline medical tent before the Seahawks’ orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Ed Khalfayan, requested a stretcher.
"Cade Johnson is being transported to Harborview Medical Center as a precaution for head and neck injuries. He's in stable condition," the Seahawks said in a short statement.
Initial tests lead Seattle to believe that Johnson suffered a concussion and head coach Carroll delivered an encouraging update.
"The first thing that we heard was that it was no findings," he said.
"I think he got concussed, but there were no findings beyond that at this point, so we got a real good report, the early one, I'm hoping that's conclusive, but that's what we heard. They just went to the max precautions, and the findings were already really positive."
Johnson played a role in Seattle's playoff run in the 2022 season, starting in the 41-23 Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He carried for 39 yards in total during the game.
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Seattle's Dee Eskridge also had an injury scare in Thursday's game. Eskridge injured his knee on the kickoff on the first play of the game but with the 2023 NFL season around the corner, Carroll played down any major concerns.
"He twisted his knee. It's a cartilage thing. We don't know how bad it is yet. He's getting around on it, so it's not horrible, it wasn't catastrophic, but we've got to figure out how severe it is."
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The Seahawks will play two more preseason games before starting their NFL campaign. Up next is the Dallas Cowboys on August 20, followed by the Green Bay Packers six days later. Seattle will then host the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 at Lumen Field.
However, in a blow to Seattle's preparations, safety Jamal Adams and linebacker Jordyn Brooks are both sidelined, leaving Seattle's defense very little time to practice together.
"With Jamal and Jordyn both out, both of those guys are like our best players, and they’re going to come back to us in time, so that’s going to be a part of the process as well," Carroll told Sports Illustrated. "We’ll try to have them all caught up, but there will be some questions until we get rolling. Once we get going and everybody is settled in, it’s going to be a fine group.”