Quandre Diggs ejected for helmet hit, Marquise Blair out injured in Seahawks’ first half
Quandre Diggs didn’t last long in the Seahawks’ home opener.
The free safety and key glue man in the back of Seattle’s defense got ejected late in the first quarter for a hit at the head of New England’s N’Keal Harry, after the wide receiver’s catch of a pass from Cam Newton on fourth and 3 Sunday night.
Harry caught the pass between Diggs and Seattle cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Diggs then lowered the top of his helmet into Harry’s head to make the tackle.
Harry was momentarily dazed then got up and returned to the Patriots’ huddle after getting the first down. The drive ended with Newton’s 1-yard touchdown run that gave New England a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.
Diggs stomped off the field, angry at the officials for the ejection. They weren’t hearing it. They threw four flags from all angles for his hit.
It’s one a player cannot do, at any level of the sport, in this era of concern about head injuries.
Lano Hill initially replaced Diggs at free safety, with Jamal Adams staying at strong safety. Then Marquise Blair entered for Diggs.
One drive later, Blair, the new nickel, fifth defensive back, injured his right leg spinning around trying to make a tackle on New England running back Sony Michel. Coach Pete Carroll, two trainers and a team doctor ran out to Blair. He stayed down for a moment early in the second quarter, then needed a trainer under each of his arms to steady him for a painful walk straight to Seattle’s locker room.
The team relatively quickly announced he was out for the rest of the game. That was a sign of a bad injury.
The Seahawks were in nickel or dime, six defensive backs, 70% of the time in their opener last weekend at Atlanta. They were in it almost half the time of the first half Sunday.
Ugo Amadi was next up to play nickel, the job he had as a rookie to end last season.
Hill remained in for Diggs.
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 6:23 PM.
