On Thursday, ESPN.com's Terry Blount reported that the Seattle Seahawks nickel cornerback, who suffered a broken arm when he was tackled following his first-quarter interception in the Super Bowl, would also need knee surgery as a result of the same play.
Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times has confirmed the worst regarding that particular injury:
Bob Condotta @bcondottaI've confirmed Jeremy Lane's injury is an ACL. Those are usually a nine-month recovery, so that would put him back at mid-season or so.
The Seahawks' lack of depth at corner was apparent once Lane left the game, as Tom Brady attacked backup Tharold Simon with immediate success. As Pro Football Focus' Pete Damilatis put it, this is the injury that just keeps on hurting for Seattle:
Pete Damilatis @PFF_PeteWasn't it bad enough that Jeremy Lane's injury introduced the Patriots to Tharold Simon? Brutal.
Now that Lane appears to be a long shot to be back for the start of the season, Byron Maxwell could be out via free agency and the rest of the Seahawks' vaunted secondary is dealing with significant injuries, it becomes all the more important for Seattle to address the position aggressively in free agency and through the draft.
Lane, 24, is under contract through the 2015 season at a bargain. The recovery process will take a while, but the 'Hawks will have to hope he can get to the same level of play upon his return.
