SAN FRANCISCO – Just when it looked as though the injury bug had already done enough damage, the Seattle Seahawks flew back to Seattle on Sunday night without one of their best defensive players.
Cornerback Ken Lucas, who leads the NFC with four interceptions, was scheduled to spend Sunday night at a Bay Area hospital following a chest contusion he sustained in the first half of Sunday’s 42-27 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Mike Holmgren said that the team would know more about the severity of the injury today.
Lucas was injured while diving for a ball early in the second quarter. He and 49ers receiver Brandon Lloyd laid out for the pass, which fell incomplete. Lucas landed on his chest, with the 192-pound Lloyd crashing on his back.
At first it appeared that Lucas had just gotten the wind knocked out of him, but he was unable to get up without assistance. After about five minutes of attention from team trainers, the 49ers’ medical staff provided an oxygen tank and took Lucas off the field atop a cart.
He was taken to a local hospital, where he was expected to spend the night for observation.
“It’s really disappointing to see a teammate like that go down,” said cornerback Kris Richard, who shares a hotel room with Lucas for road games. “I just hope he’s doing well.”
Richard replaced Lucas at cornerback, while veteran Bobby Taylor stayed in his spot at nickel back.
For Richard, the game gave him the most playing time of his NFL career. He played every defensive snap over the final three quarters, even making a diving pass breakup at one point.
“It’s a long time coming,” said Richard, a third-round pick in the 2002 draft. “I’ve waited patiently. I realize we’ve got a lot of good players here, good corners. I realize that I just have to pay my dues and wait for my time. I got a little taste of it today.”
Richard also returned punts for the second week in row. His extensive action put him in the training room afterward, needing intravenous fluids because of heavy dehydration.
“It’s a little embarrassing,” Richard said. “I finally get a chance to play, and I start cramping. I had a lot going on out there.
“But I’ll put it like this: I will cramp every week if I get a chance to go out there and contribute to a victory.”
Richard or Taylor could start next week, depending on the health of Lucas. The fourth-year cornerback could join Grant Wistrom, Chad Brown and Anthony Simmons as injured defensive starters who have missed a game this year.
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