Richard Sherman played through Achilles pain for weeks before season-ending injury

There’s a saying in NFL circles that “there’s a difference between ‘hurt’ and ‘injured.’” Richard Sherman played through Achilles pain for weeks. Now he’ll miss the rest of the season.

Sherman ruptured his Achilles in the Seahawks’ 22-16 win over the Cardinals. He was one of six Seattle starters to leave the game, and he was visibly emotional afterward. Sherman said he knew exactly what was happening.

“It has been bothering me all season,” Sherman said after the game. “It was one of those things you just had to play through as long as you can, then when it goes, it goes.”

Sometimes one win or loss can be the difference between a shot at the postseason or watching the playoffs from home. For Sherman and the Seahawks, who are trying to keep pace with the resurgent Rams this season, that was the case.

“Because every game matters in this league, every game matters,” Sherman said. “You go out there and play for your teammates. Go out there and try to give them all you’ve got, because they deserve it. That’s what I did; I wanted to give my team the best chance to win.”

It’s not the first time Sherman has played through injuries. Sherman took the field in the NFC championship game and Super Bowl XLIX with an elbow injury. Head coach Pete Carroll let it slip after the Seahawks’ divisional loss to the Falcons last postseason that Sherman had been battling through a knee injury for weeks. It was so common for Sherman to play through pain that the Seahawks didn’t even put him on the injury report, and the league investigated them for it. And Sherman isn’t the exception.

On Thursday night, Sherman returned to the sideline to support his team after he ruptured his Achilles.

“I think it shows to his character, his ability to put himself aside and be able to cheer for the team and he did that every second of the way, coaching guys up,” Michael Bennett said after the game, via the team’s website. “That just shows who he is as a leader and who he is as a person.”

The team will turn to Jeremy Lane, who began the season as a starter, to fill in for Sherman. Lane was originally part of the trade with the Texans that brought Duane Brown to Seattle, but he failed his physical.

Sherman will mentor Lane and the rest of the team’s cornerbacks while he can’t be on the field.

“It’s unfortunate. It sucks,” Sherman said. “If it was anything I could play with, I’d be out there. But (Jeremy Lane) and (Justin Coleman) and the rook, Shaq (Griffin), they’re all capable, they’ll do a great job. I’ll stay in the room and make sure they get all the coaching points, and I’ll give them everything.”

But it’s not the same as having one of the best corners in the league on the field.

The win keeps the Seahawks in the hunt in the NFC West. They improve to 6-3 and stay in second place behind the 6-2 Rams. But it came at too great a price.

“I hope you guys recognize how challenging this is for NFL players,” Carroll said. “It’s so challenging physically, they have to go through so much and they risk so much ... it just tears your heart out when it gets taken away because of injuries.”

Doug Baldwin was clear after the game. The quick turnaround for Thursday Night Football is bad for players. That’s especially true when they’re already playing hurt.

“This shit should be illegal. It is not OK. It’s not OK. You can quote me on that,” Baldwin said after the game via Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.

By this point of the season, players are banged up. An Achilles strain or a knee sprain can turn into a rupture or tear in a heartbeat, especially on a short week. We’ve seen it happen too often this season. Sherman is just the latest victim.