Cardinals S Tony Jefferson suffers sprained MCL in win over Seahawks
Dec 24, 2016, 3:46 PM | Updated: 6:44 pm
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) has his pass knocked away by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Tony Jefferson (22) during the first half of a football game, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson left the Saturday game against the Seahawks with a knee injury, and right guard Taylor Boggs also went to the locker room before halftime with a shoulder problem.
Jefferson suffered a sprained MCL, according to team reporter Darren Urban. That will likely keep him out of the finale, but Jefferson tweeted soon after the game that he would “be just fine.”
Ima be just fine. What a game by the cards baby ! I love this team. We fight #birdgang
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) December 25, 2016
To make due without Jefferson, free safety D.J. Swearinger shifted to strong safety and rookie Harlan Miller, a sixth-round pick making his NFL debut, entered at free safety.
“So many young players,” head coach Bruce Arians said of the game. “Second play of the game, (Miller is) out there playing safety. Thank God he studied his playbook because he’s a corner.”
Jefferson, in a contract season, has put together his best year so far in 2016. The strong safety had 96 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries coming into the game at Seattle.
Boggs was replaced by rookie offensive lineman Evan Boehm, who at Missouri played as a center. It was his first action this season for the banged up Cardinals offensive line that did not have right tackle-turned-left tackle D.J. Humphries available as he remains on concussion protocol.
