Jordyn Brooks has a torn ACL, out for this Seahawks season into next. Tanner Muse moves up
Jordyn Brooks needs reconstructive knee surgery from a torn ligament, a major blow for the Seahawks’ defense for the rest of this season into the next.
Brooks has a “legit ACL injury,” coach Pete Carroll said Monday morning on his weekly radio show on KIRO AM.
“That’s a shame, man,” Carroll said, saying how skilled and important the inside linebacker and signal caller is to Seattle’s defense.
Brooks set the Seahawks record for tackles in a season last season with 183. Seattle’s first-round draft choice from 2020 leads the team with 161 tackles through 16 games this season.
Torn anterior cruciate ligament injuries and knee reconstructions typically involve a recovery time of eight to 12 months. That would take Brooks into the start of the 2023 regular season in September.
Cody Barton becomes the middle linebacker and defensive signal caller for the Seahawks Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field in the regular-season finale. Tanner Muse replaces Barton as the second inside linebacker next to Barton in Seattle’s base 3-4 defense.
Seattle (8-8) must win and Detroit (8-8) must win at Green Bay (8-8) also Sunday for the Seahawks to qualify for the playoffs for the ninth time in 11 seasons.
“Cody becomes the ‘mike’ (middle linebacker),” Carroll said.
The coach also mentioned special-teams mainstay Jon Rhattigan and practice-squad inside linebacker Alexander Johnson will move up the depth chart with Brooks out.
Seattle’s inside linebacker and defensive signal caller left the Seahawks’ 23-6, New Year’s Day win over the New York Jets in the second quarter Sunday.
Brooks got hurt zooming from the middle of the field to the Seahawks’ sideline to tackle Jets tight end C.J. Uzomah to end a 12-yard pass play. Brooks’ right leg appeared to buckle awkwardly under him as he was trying to brace himself landing on the turf. Team doctor Ed Khalfayan came to the aid of Brooks immediately as the team’s first-round pick in 2020 stayed down injured for minutes.
Brooks couldn’t walk. He sat glumly on the back of a motorized cart that took him off the field.
Muse, usually a special-teams player, replaced Brooks at inside linebacker. Barton replaced Brooks as the signal caller for the defense. Barton put on a new helmet that had the headset speaker to hear the play calls from defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt.
“I thought they did well,” Carroll said. “A really nice answer (to Brooks getting hurt).
Hurtt was talking to Barton as Brooks remained down injured. Brooks needed two Seahawks assistants to help him get into the blue observation tent behind the team’s bench. He could not put weight on his leg as he got into the tent, then to the cart pulled up to it.
Barton has been Brooks’ backup middle linebacker and signal caller all season. He was the same behind All-Pro Bobby Wagner the previous three seasons, Barton’s first in the league.
Brooks replaced departed All-Pro and captain Bobby Wagner as the play caller for the Seahawks’ defense, after the team released Wagner in March. Brooks played weakside linebacker outside during his first two NFL seasons.
“Nothing crazy, as far of the communication goes,” Barton said of his changing roles with Brooks injured.
“I don’t know what happened to J.B. I saw him at halftime. I didn’t see him after the game.
“I’ll be praying for him.”
This story was originally published January 2, 2023 at 10:14 AM.
