RENTON — Cornerback Marcus Trufant, who missed Seattle’s last game with a back injury, will miss the remainder of the season having been placed on injured reserve by the Seahawks Monday.
Trufant, a Pro-Bowler in 2007, has what Pete Carroll described as a bruised sacrum, which is a bone in the lower back. Trufant missed the first six games of the 2009 season with a back injury, but Carroll said the two injuries are not related.
Trufant had his contract restructured prior to this season, cutting his pay nearly in half from $5.9 million to $3 million, and with another injury setback, it is entirely possible that the former first-round pick has played his final game in Seattle. Trufant is still under contract for the next two seasons, but the money isn’t guaranteed and it is highly unlikely the Seahawks or any other team would pay him the $7.2 million on his contract next year. Trufant is Seattle’s longest tenured player, having spent his entire eight-plus seasons in Seattle.
With Trufant out last week, second-year player Walter Thurmond started at cornerback, and will likely remain the starter. Rookie Richard Sherman will also see an increased role, playing on passing downs when Thurmond moves inside as a nickel back. The Seahawks could also activate CB Roy Lewis this week off the physically unable to perform list. Lewis is one of three players on the PUP list along with TE Cameron Morrah and WR Deon Butler, who can start practicing this week. Seattle has three weeks to decide whether to activate those players or place them on injured reserve, but any can be activated this week.
The Seahawks also signed DT Jason Shirley, a 2008 fifth-round pick by Cincinnati. He has appeared in three games in his career, all in 2008.
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