Springs injured; Seattle places 16 players on waivers

Updated: September 1, 2003, 2:02 AM ET

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks will be without starting cornerback Shawn Springs for the first eight weeks of the season because of a broken bone in his shoulder, the team announced.

Springs was injured in the first quarter of Friday night's 20-3 loss to the Broncos in Denver in a collision with running back Mike Anderson.

Springs, who was a Pro Bowler for the Seahawks in 1998 and is one of the top players in their defense, was Seattle's first-round draft choice and the third player chosen overall in 1997.

In 2002, he started 15 games and tied cornerback Ken Lucas for the team lead with 12 passes defensed to go along with 59 total tackles and three interceptions. He has 19 career interceptions, including a career-high seven.

With Springs out, the Seahawks will go with first-round draft pick Marcus Trufant of Washington State and Lucas as their starting cornerbacks.

The Seahawks defense already is without starting defensive tackle Chad Eaton, who was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday after undergoing surgery during training camp on his right knee. He had offseason surgery on the same knee.

The Seahawks will open their regular season against New Orleans next Sunday at Seahawks Stadium.

The Seahawks also announced on Sunday that they have reached their regular-season roster limit by waiving 16 players and placing one on reserve-physically unable to perform.

Players waived by the Seahawks were defensive tackle Luis Almanzar, linebacker Marcus Bell, free safety Walter Bernard, tight end Deitan Dubuc, cornerback Doug Evans, defensive end Joey Evans, free safety Curtis Fuller, linebacker Dane Krager, punter Mat McBriar, defensive end Norris McCleary, guard Kaulana Noa, running back Tellis Redmon, wide receiver Jerheme Urban, wide receiver Taco Wallace, tight end Josh Whitman and NFL Europe exemption WR Emmett Johnson.

The Seahawks placed defensive end Lamar King, who was the team's first-round draft choice in 1999 and the 22nd pick overall, on their reserve-physically unable to perform list.

King underwent surgery on his right knee during the offseason. He started 12 games for the Seahawks last season.

Bell, a fourth-round draft choice in 2000 by the Seahawks, played in 45 games and started nine for Seattle, totaling 99 tackles, two sacks and one interception. Bell started nine games last season and had a career-high 74 tackles.

Fuller played in 26 games and started two, compiling 47 tackles and one interception during his two seasons with the Seahawks.

On Monday, the Seahawks can establish a practice squad of five players.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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