Seahawks’ Greg Olsen, Brandon Shell, Bo Scarbrough injured in win over Cardinals
Coach Pete Carroll assured again following Sunday night’s win that the Seahawks will be healthy soon.
“Is that the epitome of optimism? We’re leading the league in injuries and I’m telling you how strong we’re going to be down the stretch,” Carroll said on a Zoom call with reporters postgame.
Seattle entered this meeting with the Cardinals already short a few offensive weapons — starting running back Chris Carson is still grappling with a sprained foot, starting center Ethan Pocic is out with a concussion, third-down running back Travis Homer has a hand injury.
Backup guard Jordan Simmons and rookie tight end Colby Parkinson were also inactive.
The offensive injury list only got longer despite the 28-21 win over the Cardinals that — at least momentarily — returns the Seahawks to the top of the NFC West.
Three more injuries to offensive role players in the fourth quarter left the Seahawks even more depleted.
Both veteran tight end Greg Olsen (foot) and starting right tackle Brandon Shell (ankle) left the field on a cart, and running back Bo Scarbrough (hamstring) also made an early exit.
Olsen was quickly ruled out after dropping to the ground without contact from another player on Seattle’s first drive of the fourth quarter.
His left leg appeared to give out on the play, and he attempted to get up, but immediately returned to the turf. Both quarterback Russell Wilson and fellow tight end Will Dissly appeared to speak to him briefly before he was helped off by trainers.
Olsen was evaluated in the injury tent and carted into the locker room soon after. Carroll said Olsen has a fascia tear that he’s had previously in his right foot.
“He knows exactly what it is,” Carroll said. “And sometimes when it ruptures like it did — we think — it’s the best thing for a quick recovery. So, we’ll see what happens, and wish him the best and hopefully he can make it back. The fact that he’s already had this before really helps him understand what’s coming up.”
Olsen, the 35-year-old veteran who signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Seahawks earlier this year, was leading Seattle’s tight ends in receiving before the injury, tallying 23 catches on 35 targets for 224 yards and a touchdown.
He caught both of his targets against the Cardinals for 20 yards. Both catches came on touchdown-scoring drives.
Dissly and Jacob Hollister have been Wilson’s top tight end targets behind Olsen this season. Both hauled in catches in the fourth quarter after Olsen was ruled out.
Both Shell and Scarbrough were injured on the same drive later in the fourth quarter.
On the first play of the drive that ultimately led to Seattle’s final field goal, Shell was blocking on a short run toward the Seahawks’ sideline, and as Scarbrough was pushed out of bounds, a Cardinals defender appeared to roll over Shell’s legs and he fell to his knees.
He was also evaluated in the injury tent and was eventually carted off. Cedric Ogbuehi replaced him for the remainder of the game.
Carroll said Shell has a sprained ankle, but the severity was not yet known.
Scarbrough left the game six plays later with a hamstring injury when he fell awkwardly at the end of a rushing attempt.
He remained on the sideline after being evaluated in the injury tent, and was on the field postgame as players met, but eventually limped toward the locker room with his right leg heavily wrapped.
Scarbrough was making his 2020 debut after being elevated from the practice squad and finished with six carries for 31 yards backing up Carlos Hyde.
Hyde, returning to the backfield from a hamstring injury, finished with 14 carries for 79 yards, two catches for 16 yards and a rushing touchdown.
“We’re a whole different team in style when those guys are pounding away at it,” Carroll said. “Chris will play next week — unless he has a setback, he’ll be ready to go. Rashaad Penny is only a couple weeks away from being back.
“So, we’re getting stronger. If this works out right we could be really healthy going down the stretch here.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2020 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Seahawks’ Greg Olsen, Brandon Shell, Bo Scarbrough injured in win over Cardinals."
