Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor played Super Bowl with MCL tear

Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor played with a torn MCL during the Super Bowl.

Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor played with a torn MCL during the Super Bowl, the team announced on Wednesday. 

During Friday's practice before the game, Chancellor got a "deep bone bruise" on the outside of his knee. Further examination revealed the tear, which coach Pete Carroll said was likely from a previous injury. 

"There are some people that get injured and can’t even play this game, can’t even play a game. So you’ve got to be grateful for how you're feeling at the moment," said Chancellor. "Shoot, my injury happened two days before the game and they told me I wasn’t going to be able to play. They told me, 'Torn MCL and bone bruise.' I was mad. I was frustrated. But at the end of the day, I was able to play."

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Chancellor becomes the third Seahawks player who played the Super Bowl with a serious injury. Cornerback Earl Thomas played with a dislocated left shoulder and cornerback Richard Sherman had a left elbow injury. 

"It was an extraordinary effort from guys who played through unbelievable issues," Carroll said. "That was a heroic thing that those guys did to play. They wanted to play for their teammates and they did exactly that, and they did it in great fashion."

Carroll initially said Sherman would need Tommy John surgery during the offseason, but later said the cornerback might be able to avoid it. 

The Seahawks lost the Super Bowl 28-24 to the New England Patriots.

- Molly Geary