Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner has suffered a strained pectoral according to reports from Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. According to Candotta, this injury could keep him out for a couple of weeks or affect him not all for the game between Seattle and the Panthers on Sunday.
With an injury status like that, it is hard to gauge Wagner’s availability. A torn pectoral would be an easy call, that would easily sit Wagner for weeks if not months. Strained means the Seahawks can hide Wagner’s status as long as they need to. They very well might not declare him out until right before kickoff. This would force the Panthers to prepare as if he was going to be in the game.
Wagner has become a very productive linebacker in his short career. He has averaged 120 tackles over three years. He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods last year. He is also the signal caller of the Seahawks defense. Losing him would me making adjustments and giving a new player play calling responsibilities. Wagner would also be the guy most likely to be the spy for Cam Newton in running situations.
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Wagner was a second round pick which meant that he was playing on the cheap in much the same way that Russell Wilson was. As a number of Seahawks defenders wanted to be shown the money, Wagner actually got his four year extension around the same time Wilson got paid as well. Other Seahawks defenders like Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett are also looking to get paid from Seattle’s shrinking cap room.
The Carolina Panthers will prepare for the game against Seattle the same regardless of Wagner’s status. In fact it is probably more important that Marshawn Lynch will be returning than whether Wagner misses the game or not. Wagner did run a fumble back against the Bengals, but there is nothing to prepare for that other than not fumbling the ball in the first place.