The Seahawks will be without left tackle George Fant this season – and perhaps beyond.

The team confirmed the initial fear about an ACL tear, but video of the incident indicates much more than that.

That is not to imply that Seahawks Pete Carroll is not being honest, only that he is not a physician. Fant does have an ACL tear but also at least a complete tear of the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) as well.


And the fact that Fant’s leg was placed in an air cast when he left the field indicates the amount of instability which would not be needed for an isolated ACL.

His foot was at an awkward angle but cleats didn't seem caught in turf. Foot moved (parallel to ground) as leg moved back half yard. pic.twitter.com/QzSZnveazo — Jonathan Ness (@jness) August 19, 2017

This injury is essentially a form of knee dislocation.

Fant could return next season but there is no guarantee. A multi-ligament injury leads to a much harder recovery.


In Fant’s favor is that it is an easier recovery for an offensive lineman than a linebacker.

In 2014, NaVorro Bowman had a similar injury – albeit in January – and did not return to play the following season. A picture of Bowman’s injury is included here and can be compared the above photo and video of Fant’s injury.

To date, Fant has a Cinderella story of being a basketball player who has progressed from recently learning the game to having been expected to dominate. Hopefully he can return to form, but it will be challenge to do so for the start of 2018.

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