The Seattle Seahawks have paid a heavy price for their 22-16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday as key defensive back Richard Sherman was ruled out for the NFL season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Sherman left the game after getting tangled up with a Cardinals player in the third quarter and television pictures showed the four-time Pro Bowler telling team mates "tore my Achilles".
"He's going to get checked and all that kind of stuff, but the doctors are really clear about it that he ruptured his Achilles," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.
"There's no coming back from that until you get the surgery and all that kind of stuff."
Sherman, who was listed as carrying an Achilles injury before Thursday, arrived at his post-game news conference on crutches and wearing a walking boot on his right foot.
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"It's been bothering me all season. So it was one them things you just have to play through as long as you can but when it goes, it goes," Sherman said.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson also had an injury scare in the second quarter after being struck in the neck by the helmet of an opposition player.
He left the field but quickly returned to action and seemed fine during a post-game interview.
Wilson acknowledged that the loss of Sherman was a setback to their hopes of making the playoffs.
"It's unfortunate with (Sherman) because he's as good as it gets," Wilson said.
"You can't replace Richard Sherman but guys can step up and play roles.
"We'll have to find a way."
The Seahawks (6-3) are second in the NFC West behind the Los Angeles Rams (6-2).
