‘Heartbreaking’: Rashaad Penny out for Seahawks’ season (again), surgery for broken leg
Days earlier, Rashaad Penny had stated his appreciation for where he was, where he’d been and where he never wanted to be again.
“I felt like I let people down as far as being hurt all of the time, not making it to Sundays, and not showing my true potential, because I really know what I can do,” the Seahawks’ lead running back and 2018 first-round pick said of finally being through four seasons of injuries. “I feel like they drafted me here for a reason, and I feel like I can give a lot when I’m healthy. That’s just one thing, health, and I always tried to stay on top of that.
“But it’s hard,” Penny said Wednesday. “As an NFL player, I’m getting hit by guys that are 300 pounds. Safeties tackling at knees. It’s not easy to stay healthy.
“I thank God when I come out of the game every day now. I’m just thankful that I am healthy.”
He did not come out of Seattle’s loss Sunday at New Orleans.
Penny broke his fibula, severely injured his tibia in a high-ankle sprain and needs surgery on his left leg that will leave him out for the season. Coach Pete Carroll confirmed that Monday morning on his weekly radio show with Seattle’s KIRO AM.
“Really, just a heartbreaking loss for him,” Carroll said.
With teammate Tyler Lockett consoling him with pats on his back, Penny was in tears sitting on the bench while getting examined by team doctors Sunday in the Superdome. He landed awkwardly on his left leg while getting pushed out of bounds at the end of a 6-yard run into Seattle’s sideline in the second quarter of the team’s 39-32 loss to the Saints. He could not put weight on the leg as two team assistants helped him hop from the bench to a motorized cart. He sat on the back of that while taken to the Seahawks’ locker room.
He was in crutches, a boot and obvious anguish getting to the team’s bus for the trip back to Seattle Sunday night.
“He’s crushed,” Carroll said.
Rookie second-round draft choice Ken Walker will be the new number-one back Sunday for the Seahawks (2-3) when they host NFC West-rival Arizona (2-3) at Lumen Field. He will replace Penny, who replaced his best friend Chris Carson. Carson had to retire this summer following neck-fusion surgery.
Days ago, Penny had the highest of hopes entering the New Orleans game. He had just romped for 151 yards and two long touchdowns to lead the Seahawks past Detroit. He had five days with at least 135 yards rushing in his last nine starts dating to December. These were the best games of his career.
Sunday against the Saints was perhaps his worst. That, and the game in December 2019 at the Los Angeles Rams when he tore ligaments throughout his knee. That injury and recovery affected him for two years, until last season.
“My career didn’t get started to where I really wanted it to get started,” Penny had said Wednesday. “But I’m grateful and thankful for the position I’m in and to make a contribution to a team that I feel go a really long way with this offense.
“I think it is really only the beginning again. We are finding our marks and what we can be as an offense. I think that, really, we can take off.”
This story was originally published October 10, 2022 at 12:40 PM.
