One of the biggest question marks heading into Super Bowl XLIX was the health of Kam Chancellor. The Seattle Seahawks' All-Pro safety injured his knee in practice just two days before the game, leaving his availability in doubt. The team called it a bone bruise at the time, though in truth it was far more severe. According to Seahawks.com, Chancellor played in the Super Bowl with a torn MCL.
Seattle’s Kam Chancellor played through a torn MCL in the Super Bowl
The team originally called his injury a bone bruise.
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“Shoot, my injury happened two days before the game and they told me I wasn’t going to be able to play,” Chancellor said, via the team website. “They told me, ‘Torn MCL and bone bruise.’ I was mad. I was frustrated. But at the end of the day, I was able to play.”
Chancellor worked out for the Seahawks' medical staff in a knee brace before the game. Though he was able to cut and run, his movement wasn't as fluid as it normally would have been. To his credit, he suited up and performed remarkably well considering the severity of the injury. However, the MCL tear may have influenced the team's decision to leave linebacker K.J. Wright primarily on New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski until the second half. Chancellor finished the game with 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Chancellor is just one of multiple members of the Seahawks' secondary that played through injuries during the Super Bowl. Cornerback Richard Sherman played with a torn ulnar ligament in his left elbow, an injury that may require surgery. Free safety Earl Thomas played through a dislocated shoulder and may too go under the knife. Seattle also lost nickelback Jeremy Lane to a severe arm injury during an interception of Tom Brady.
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