The surging Seahawks finally took a loss, but it wasn't to the Ravens.
Rookie running back Thomas Rawls suffered a fractured ankle Sunday and will miss the rest of the season, coach Pete Carroll told the media. Rawls was hurt on Seattle's opening drive, limping off for the locker room after being stuffed behind the line on a second-down attempt.
Rawls walked off the field with trainers after plowing for 44 yards at 7.3 yards per carry against Baltimore's injury-ravaged defense.
The undrafted Rawls has been sensational this season, stepping in for injured veteran Marshawn Lynch to lead the club with 786 yards at a generous 5.6 yards per tote. Rawls has started just seven games for Seattle in 2015, but went into Sunday's contest ranked 10th in the league in rushing.
His absence amounts to a major loss for a Seattle offense that has leaned hard on Rawls all autumn. Since the rookie became the starter in Week 11, Russell Wilson has tossed for 16 touchdowns and led the team to four straight wins. There was even talk that Rawls could be a Rookie of the Year contender, thanks to his job in turning around Seattle's fortunes.
Now the future is foggy in the Emerald City. Seattle is in control of its playoff destiny, but will have to push on without its young spark plug.
Here are other notable injuries from Sunday:
- Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton suffered a fractured thumb during the first quarter of Sunday's loss to the Steelers and will not play next week against the 49ers, coach Marvin Lewis said after the game. Television cameras caught the quarterback wearing a cast on his right hand as he stood on the sideline during the second quarter. Dalton said he will see a hand specialist Monday.
He wasn't the only early casualty for the Bengals. Tight end Tyler Eifert left in the first half after suffering a concussion.
Safety George Iloka suffered a first-half groin injury and did not return. During the third quarter, linebacker Vontaze Burfict left the game to be evaluated for a head injury.
- Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer went to the locker room in the fourth quarter to undergo concussion protocol. He did not return to the game. After the game coach ,Bill O'Brien did not confirm that Hoyer suffered a concussion, saying it was too early to tell.
- Panthers tight end Greg Olsen suffered a knee injury during the closing seconds of the first half against the Falcons and did not return. Olsen's injury did not appear serious as he stood on the sideline watching the game in the second half with the Panthers enjoying a sizable lead. Coach Ron Rivera said after the game that the tight end "should be fine."
Olsen wasn't the only Panthers player who was sidelined. Running back Jonathan Stewart left with a foot injury and kicker Graham Gano was checked for a concussion in the third quarter. Starting cornerback Bene' Benwikere was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a fractured leg.
- Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor left with a tailbone injury during the first quarter against the Ravens and did not return.
- Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck left during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a rib injury and did not return. Charlie Whitehurst took over at quarterback for the Colts early in the fourth.
- Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson left with a knee injury during the second quarter of Sunday's loss to the Saints and did not return.
- Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount was taken to the locker room in the second quarter with a hip injury and did not return. Safety Devin McCourty (ankle) and defensive tackle Dominique Easley (thigh) also did not return.
- Chargers offensive tackle King Dunlap suffered an ankle injury against the Chiefs during the first half. He did not return.
- Bills tight end Charles Clay did not return against the Eagles after suffering a back injury in the first half.
- Tight end Brandon Pettigrew did not return for the Lionsduring their loss to the Rams after leaving early with a knee injury.
- Niners guard Alex Boone did not return in Sunday's loss to the Browns after leaving with a knee injury in the third quarter. Teammate Kendall Gaskins left in the second half to be evaluated for a head injury and safety Jimmie Ward did not return with an elbow injury.
- Jets rookie wide receiver Devin Smith was carted off with a knee injury during the second half against the Titans and was ruled out. Smith will have an MRI on Monday, coach Todd Bowles said after the game.
- Steelers rookie linebacker Bud Dupree suffered a tailbone injury against the Bengals in the second half and did not return.
- Da'Norris Searcy suffered a hamstring injury during the second half against the Jets. He did not return in the Titans' loss.
- Browns wide receiver Brian Hartline broke his collarbone during Sunday's win over the 49ers and will miss the rest of the season.
- Packers cornerback Sam Shields did not return to Sunday's game against the Cowboys with a concussion.
- Raiders tackle Austin Howard (knee) left in the first half and did not return against the Broncos. Cornerback Neiko Thorpe went into the locker room in the fourth quarter to undergo X-rays on an undisclosed injury and did not return.
