RENTON – Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters at the team’s headquarters on Monday that linebacker Matt McCoy will be out indefinitely with a knee sprain.
McCoy suffered the injury on the opening series of Sunday’s game against Atlanta while attempting to make a tackle on Seattle’s punt unit.
The seven-year pro is one of Seattle’s top special teams players, and he also carved out a role for himself defensively as the Seahawks’ middle linebacker on obvious passing downs.
“He got a significant knee sprain that it’s going to be a while before he gets back,” Carroll said. “It doesn’t look like he needs surgery at this time, but it is a significant sprain and he is going to be out for a while.”
With McCoy out, it appears the Seahawks have already located his replacement.
Agent Marc Lillibridge announced via Twitter on Monday that his client, David Vobora, intends to sign with Seattle, possibly by today.
The team has not confirmed this report.
A native of Eugene, Ore., who starred at the University of Idaho, Vobora signed with Seattle during the team’s training camp on Aug. 22, and initially was on the Seahawks’ 53-man roster during final cut downs in September. But the Sea-hawks released Vobora when they signed four players off waivers a few days later.
Vobora, 25, has a similar skill set to McCoy’s. He can play all three linebacker positions and was a special teams standout while with St. Louis for three seasons.
EXTRA POINTS
Carroll did not have an update on wide receiver Mike Williams and his concussion, other than he has to go through the process of passing concussion tests to make it back on the field. Carroll said that the team is hopeful that safety Kam Chancellor (thigh bruise) can get back on the field this week. And Robert Gallery (groin) will not return to practice until after the Oct. 16 bye. Also, Carroll offered no update on linebacker Malcolm Smith and defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and their hamstring injuries, other than he’ll know more Wednesday. Carroll did say that Smith injured the hamstring on his other leg, after suffering a hamstring injury earlier this season.
