Linebacker Malcolm Smith was not a particularly well known name heading into Super Bowl XLVIII, but he changed that with an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery that helped him become the MVP of Seattle’s 43-8 rout of the Broncos.
Those exploits helped Seattle win in February, but they don’t guarantee Smith much in the way of playing time come this fall because he was a backup for much of the season and the Seahawks return regular starters Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. Smith’s chances of using the offseason as a springboard to a bigger role took a hit when he had ankle surgery to clean up “loose bodies.”
“He had a couple little things in his ankle he had to clean up,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said, via the Seattle Times. “He’ll be OK.”
Smith is expected to be healthy in time for training camp, as are two other Seahawks vets who had surgery since the Super Bowl. Carroll said “we have no hesitation” that safety Kam Chancellor will be good to go after hip surgery while tackle Russell Okung is recovering after toe surgery.