The NFL preseason got off to a scary start on Thursday, as Seahawks wide receiver Cade Johnson was stretchered off the field and taken to the hospital after a collision.
The third-year player was injured during the first half of the Seahawks' 24-13 win over the Vikings. He was hit hard during a kickoff return in the second quarter and removed from the contest.
He finished the game with one carry for two yards, as well as two targets, but no catches in the passing game.
Johnson signed with Seattle as an undrafted rookie out of South Dakota State in 2021 and has spent most of his career on the practice squad. He made his NFL debut last season, playing in three games.
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The Sporting News has the latest updates on Johnson.
Cade Johnson injury update
Johnson was injured during a return kickoff in the second quarter. After a 17-yard return, he got up gingerly, but made his way to the Seahawks sideline on his own.
He went underneath the medical tent for an evaluation. Eventually he was loaded onto a stretcher with his neck stabilized and taken off the field at halftime.
According to the Seahawks, he was then transported to the hospital "as a precaution" for head and neck injuries and was in "stable" condition.
Cade Johnson is being transported to Harborview Medical Center as a precaution for head and neck injuries. He's in stable condition.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 11, 2023
Prayers are up for him.
After the game, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll delivered positive news on Johnson. While he suffered a concussion, there were "no findings" beyond that point.
"The first thing that we heard was that it was no findings," Carroll said. "I think he got concussed, but there were no findings beyond that at this point, so we got a real good report, the early one, I’m hoping that’s conclusive, but that’s what we heard ... They just went to the max precautions, and the findings were already really positive."
Seahawks WR depth chart
Johnson is fighting for one of the depth spots at wide receiver on Seattle.
In the Seahawks first unofficial depth chart of the season, Johnson was listed as the sixth wide receiver on the right side. Only Tyjon Lindsey, an undrafted rookie out of Oregon State, is listed behind Johnson.
| Position | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Sixth | Seventh |
| WR | DK Metcalf | Dee Eskridge | Dareke Young | Matt Landers | John Hall | ||
| WR | Tyler Lockett | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Cody Thompson | Jake Bobo | Easop Winston Jr. | Cade Johnson | Tyjon Lindsey |
