http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Seahawks-GM-John-Schneider-CB-DeShawn-Shead-10968893.php
GM: Seahawks CB Shead likely won't be ready for start of season
Published 10:08 am, Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead is taken off the field after injury against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football divisional football game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
lessSeattle Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead is taken off the field after injury against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football divisional football game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Atlanta.
... more(L-R) Alex Collins, K.J. Wright, Brock Coyle, and DeShawn Shead chat as players clean out their lockers the day after the Seahawks played their final game of the season against Atlanta, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at Virginia Mason Athletic Complex.
less(L-R) Alex Collins, K.J. Wright, Brock Coyle, and DeShawn Shead chat as players clean out their lockers the day after the Seahawks played their final game of the season against Atlanta, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at
... moreSeahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead defends Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin during the first half of a wild card playoff game at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017.
Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead defends Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin during the first half of a wild card playoff game at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017.
Seahawks player DeShawn Shead smiles as he heads off the field after Seattle's NFL wild card playoff game against Detroit, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at CenturyLink Field.
Seahawks player DeShawn Shead smiles as he heads off the field after Seattle's NFL wild card playoff game against Detroit, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at CenturyLink Field.
Seahawks player DeShawn Shead celebrates Seattle's 31-25 win against Buffalo on Nov. 7, 2016 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Seahawks player DeShawn Shead celebrates Seattle's 31-25 win against Buffalo on Nov. 7, 2016 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Speaking at the NFL scouting combine from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Wednesday, Seahawks' general manager John Schneider provided a few updates on injured players.
The most serious of those injuries belonged to starting cornerback DeShawn Shead, whom Schneider didn't expect to be ready for the start of the 2017 season after suffering a torn ACL and other damage in Seattle's playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
"For the start of the regular season?" Schneider asked when questioned about the sixth-year pro's recovery timeline. "I wouldn't think so."
Shead suffered what head coach Pete Carroll deemed at the time a "significant" knee injury in the Seahawks' divisional-round loss to Atlanta on Jan. 14, and the timing and severity of the injury likely means Shead will have a hard time making it back in time for the start of the regular season.
The former undrafted free agent had a breakout season for the Seahawks in 2016, starting 15 games at cornerback after beating out Jeremy Lane for the right outside starting job in the offseason. He totaled 80 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team, while registering a team-high 14 passes defensed.
Schneider wouldn't totally rule out Shead being ready by the start of the season.
"His mindset is like, 'Hey, I'm going,'" Schneider said. "So I say he's not going to be there right away. That's just me. He probably thinks he's going to. He's crushing his rehab right now."
Seattlepi.com's Stephen Cohen gives three need-to-know facts about Seattle sports this week. Tat's Delicatessen, Pioneer Square, Seattle.
Media: MediaOS VideoWith Shead out, that leaves three-time first-team All-Pro Richard Sherman as the lone veteran cornerback with starting experience in Seattle's secondary, making the position an obvious area of need. The 2017 draft class of cornerbacks is generally regarded as the deepest in years, which works out nicely for Seattle, though -- as expected -- Schneider didn't tip his hand by admitting the team needed to select one early in the draft.
"We're evaluating everybody," Schneider said. "It's just a matter of watching to see how free agency goes. We had some young guys step up and do a good job. There's a couple guys that we re-signed that we're excited about, too."
Schneider had encouraging news on free safety Earl Thomas and wide receiver Tyler Lockett, whom he characterized as "doing great" after they both suffered broken legs that prematurely ended each player's 2016 season.
Schneider also said strong safety Kam Chancellor was doing well after offseason surgery ankle/foot, though he wouldn't go into specifics about any procedure.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.
