Tuesday 22 August 2017 17:16, UK
Seattle's 20-13 pre-season win over Minnesota on Friday came at a cost with tackle George Fant suffering a serious knee injury.
The Seahawks hoped Fant would provide quarterback Russel Wilson with added protection this season but it would now appear he will miss the entire campaign after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Fant had moved into Seattle's starting line-up midway through last season and had been working as a starter during the off-season, increasing his weight from 296 to 320 pounds
But his season could be over before it even started after he was hurt when team-mate Justin Britt rolled onto his knee on a pass play.
Coach Pete Carroll said: "Really broken-hearted about George Fant getting hurt.
"Just unfortunate. He's done so much, come so far and everybody's cheering for him and rooting for him all along. He's going to be in trouble getting back this season.
"He's got a knee injury that's going to require surgery, unfortunately. [It] Kind of takes a little something out of it for everybody."
Wilson threw two touchdown passes in Seattle's second pre-season victory, a one-yarder to Kasen Williams and a 22-yarder to Mike Davis. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 206 yards in a positive outing.
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The regular season of home and away matches run from September to December 2017, culminating in PlayOffs from January 6, 2018 and the Super Bowl on February 4, 2018 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota to determine the world champion.
