RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deon Butler will be placed on injured reserve, as expected, after suffering a broken leg against San Francisco.
Butler was injured in the final minutes of Sunday's 40-21 loss to the 49ers.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Butler underwent surgery Sunday night at Stanford Hospital and a rod was inserted into his lower leg to stabilize the break. Carroll said only one bone in his lower leg broke - he did not specify which - but there were two breaks.
Butler will remain in the Bay Area for a few days to begin his recovery.
"It was able to go right back together nicely," Carroll said. "It's a real intricate surgery and all that but they were pleased with the result of it."
Butler's injury further depletes Seattle's receiving corps. The Seahawks played Sunday without their top two receivers, Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu, due to injuries, although Carroll was optimistic on Monday that both would practice and play this week against Atlanta.
Carroll said they had not figured out how they will fill Butler's roster spot.
Butler is in his second season with the Seahawks and started eight games earlier in the year before being passed by Obomanu and moving into a reserve role. Butler had 36 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
"Everything went really well and he should be able to have a really good recovery. It was a very serious break," Carroll said. "We're still thinking about him. He'll be back in a couple of days."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press