Andrew Seligman, AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Bears receiver Johnny Knox will have surgery to stabilize a vetebra in his lower to mid back after being taken from the field on a cart in the opening minutes of Sunday’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bears said the injury is not career-threatening. The surgery is scheduled for Monday.
“He has total movement throughout his body, has total use of all his extremities, which is good,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We’re doing tests right now. He has total movement. He’s not paralyzed or anything.”
Knox had just caught a pass from Caleb Hanie about four minutes into Sunday’s game when Kam Chancellor poked the ball out of his hands. As Knox made a diving attempt to retrieve the ball, he was hit by Anthony Hargrove and got bent backward. He stayed down for close to 10 minutes while being tended to by medical personnel.
The Seahawks’ Earl Thomas recovered the fumble at the Chicago 22.
Knox was eventually placed on a stretcher and taken from the field on a cart, putting his hands over his face and wiggling his fingers as he left the field.
The injury to Knox was another blow for a team that lost Jay Cutler (broken thumb) and Matt Forte (sprained knee) in recent weeks and was trying to get over the shock of receiver Sam Hurd’s arrest on federal drug charges in the days leading up to this game.
Late in the half, Bears safety Chris Conte suffered a foot injury trying to tackle Seattle’s Justin Forsett and left the game. The Seahawks didn’t come away from this game unscathed, either, with receiver Mike Williams suffering a broken ankle when he was tackled after a catch in the third quarter.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
