Bud Clark's season may be over before it started. The Seattle Seahawks' second-round pick, the 64th overall selection out of TCU who led the FBS with 15 career interceptions, broke his right ankle on the very first defensive snap of Sunday night's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
A fellow rookie landed on his leg as he came down from leaping over a pile of players. An air cast was applied. He was carted off as nearly every Seahawk on the sideline came onto the field to support him.
Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the broken ankle after the game and said Clark would be out "multiple months."
Macdonald also revealed that offensive lineman Mason Richman sustained what the team believes is a major, long-term injury in the same game.
The Seahawks had been hopeful Clark would push for starting time behind Julian Love and Ty Okada.
Instead he joins wide receiver Jake Bobo, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in joint practice Friday, and safety Rodney Thomas II, who had hand fracture surgery this week, as Seattle's three significant preseason casualties.
The Sept. 9 opener against the Patriots is less than three weeks away.