Seattle Seahawks receiver Cade Johnson was taken off the field via a stretcher and transported to a hospital after sustaining a concussion in the team's 24-13 preseason opening win over the Vikings on Thursday night at Lumen Field.
"We got a real good (early) report,'' coach Pete Carroll said. "I'm hoping that's conclusive, but that's what we heard."
Carroll indicated that initial tests revealed no issues beyond the concussion, adding that the Seahawks medical team "went to the max precautions, and the findings were already really positive."
Also Thursday, another Seahawks receiver, Dee Eskridge, exiting in the first half and did not return after sustaining what appeared to be a knee injury while covering a kickoff.
"We don't know how bad it is yet,'' said Carroll of Eskridge, in the news as he will serves a six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy once the regular season begins. "He's getting around on it, so it's not horrible. It wasn't catastrophic, but we've got to figure out how severe it is.''
Johnson made a kickoff return early in the second quarter against the Vikings, and was unstable after that. He did walk off on his own power but was then taken in the medical tent for evaluation.
Johnson was eventually loaded onto a stretcher, with his neck stabilized, and by halftime was on his way to the hospital. From a football perspective, this is a banged-up position group continues ... but hoping for Johnson's good health is the first priority.
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