Seahawks’ Branden Jackson’s career in doubt after doctors find risky spinal condition
His coach says defensive end Branden Jackson has a spinal condition similar to the ones that ended the careers of Seahawks stars Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril.
Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday after Seattle put Jackson on injured reserve that the 27-year-old veteran of four NFL seasons “has a physical kind of a trait that is one to protect.”
“It’s not the same thing as those guys, but it’s similar,” Carroll said of Chancellor and Avril. “It’s similar type of issues.
“And, so, you know how those turned out.”
Chancellor, this team’s soul for consecutive Super Bowls and beyond, had to retire after a neck injury from a game in November 2017. He later revealed he had spinal stenosis.
Avril, Seattle’s Pro Bowl defensive end, had to retire after the 2017 season following a neck injury and surgery.
Carroll stopped short of saying Jackson indeed has spinal stenosis. The Mayo Clinic defines stenosis as a narrowing of the spaces within one’s spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. Stenosis most commonly occurs in the neck and in the lower back.
Jackson was knocked unconscious Aug. 22 by a helmet-to-helmet hit with offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi while pass rushing during the Seahawks’ mock game at CenturyLink Field. An ambulance drove him from the field to Harborview Medical Center. He was released that night. He at team headquarters to resume his daily COVID-19 testing the next day.
But doctors found his spinal characteristics too risky recommend he play this season. And signs are Jackson’s career is in doubt, particularly with Carroll saying Jackson’s condition is similar to Chancellor’s and Avril’s.
“Everybody’s been convinced the best thing for him to do is to not play this year,” Carroll said after the team’s 14th practice of training camp. “And I don’t know if that will last forever, but I do know that’s for right now.
“He’s not injured right now. But he’s susceptible. It’s similar to situations a couple other of our guys have had in the past, and we are erring on the side of long-term health and taking care of our guys.
“He’s just got a condition that makes it, possibly, dangerous for him over the long haul.”
Putting him on injured reserve means Jackson can keep earning his $825,000 salary, if he stays on IR through the season. He has earned $1.9 million in his NFL career, for the Raiders (2016-17) and Seahawks.
The loss of Jackson adds to the need for others to rise up in what was the NFL’s second-worst sack-producing pass rush last year.
The Seahawks signed 32-year-old Bruce Irvin and 29-year-old Benson Mayowa this offseason to be edge pass rushers. Irvin was sterling again Sunday with spin moves too quick for starting and reserve offensive tackles alike.
Mayowa missed his second consecutive practice with an unspecified injury.
Seattle drafted two pass rushers this spring while trying (so far in vain) to re-sign three-time Pro Bowl end Jadeveon Clowney, who remains a free agent.
But second-round draft choice Darrell Taylor has yet to practice for the team. He remains on the non-football-injury list. Surgeons inserted a Titanium rod in his lower leg Jan. 30 to fix the stress fracture he got 12 months ago then played through in his final season at the University of Tennessee.
Carroll said Sunday Taylor is unlikely to be ready for Seattle’s opening game in two weeks, Sept. 13 at Atlanta. He probably won’t be on the roster yet. Carroll said his top rookie draft choice is “deep” in rehabilitation in the team’s training room trying to get back.
Rookie fifth-round pick Alton Robinson has been a surprise. He got first-team snaps for the first time during Sunday’s scrimmage. He’s gained about 20 pounds since his final season at Syracuse and has impressed coaches with maintaining his quickness while being stronger against offensive tackles.
“He’s surprised all of us,” Carroll said last week.
But he has yet to play in an NFL game, not even a preseason one.
Jackson was dependable. And popular. The Seahawks originally signed the former Texas Tech Red Raider and native of Pittsburgh (he wears a Penguins Sidney Crosby NHL jersey around the locker room) in 2017. He’s had four sacks in three seasons for Seattle, moving from end sometimes inside as a tackle in passing situations.
“He is a GREAT team guy. We love him on our team. He’s got such spirit. He’s got great versatility to his play,” Carroll said. “But he’s been such a great guy in this locker room that we are going to miss him.
“I asked him to stay around as long as he wants to and be with us all along, and I hope he will be able to do that.”
