SEATTLE – Denver defensive end Derek Wolfe was placed on a backboard and taken away in an ambulance after sustaining a neck injury in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.
Wolfe was hurt with 9 minutes left in the quarter and on Seattle's first offensive drive. He was hurt being blocked on a running play where Seattle's Robert Turbin gained 8 yards. The Broncos said Wolfe was being evaluated for a cervical spine injury and had movement in all of his extremities.
Wolfe was initially cut on the play by Seattle's Luke Willson. As Wolfe was getting back up, fullback Michael Robinson collided with Wolfe appearing to compress his head and neck. Wolfe remained on the ground and appeared to be moving his legs initially, but medical personnel strapped him to a backboard and took him away in an ambulance.
He was down for about 8 minutes before being taken away.
Denver also saw starting right guard Louis Vasquez leave with a left knee injury. The Broncos announced the injury late in the first half and said he would not return. If the injury is significant, it could be a major blow for an offensive line that has already lost center Dan Koppen to a torn ACL earlier in training camp.
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