NFL players aren’t exempt from brutal injuries just because it is the preseason.
That was the case Thursday night.
Seahawks wide receiver Cade Johnson suffered a concussion during their 24-13 preseason-opening victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field in Seattle and was transported to Harborview Medical Center at halftime as a precaution.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said after the game that Johnson was hurt following a kickoff in the second quarter, though there was no obvious sign he was injured.
Johnson had a 17-yard return on the kickoff.
He also had one rushing attempt for 2 yards and was targeted twice with no catches.
Carroll also said Johnson had suffered a concussion, but early tests showed no other findings beyond that.
Johnson, a 25-year-old third-year veteran out of South Dakota State, had full movement in his extremities.
It was unclear if he would be spending the night in the hospital.
“They just went to the max precautions,” Carroll said.
In the second quarter, Johnson was taken into the medical observation tent behind the Seahawks’ bench.
After a few minutes of Johnson being examined in the tent, Tyler Lockett ducked inside and then stayed with him, then walked alongside the stretcher across the field and to the locker room during halftime, the Seattle Times reported.
Tight end Noah Fant also accompanied the stretcher, and receivers coach Sanjay Lal also headed into the tent to spend time with Johnson as he was examined.
Johnson, who has primarily been a member of the Seahawks’ practice squad, emerged as a key reserve late last season.
He made two catches for 21 yards in three games last season, and he also made some key contributions in the Seahawks’ 41-23 NFC wild-card playoff loss to the 49ers, hauling in three catches for 39 yards.
Johnson recorded one rushing attempt for two yards while taking on kickoff back for 17 yards in Thursday’s preseason game.
— with AP
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