On Sunday, 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman returns to Seattle for the first time since he suffered a serious knee injury during the 2013 NFC title game. On Friday, Bowman reflected on the injury and its immediate aftermath with reporters.
The injury happened as Bowman was recovering a fumble near the Seattle end zone. Somehow, he held onto the ball after his knee was badly twisted, tearing the ACL. (Due to a bad call, the fumble and recovery didn’t count — and the play wasn’t reviewable.)
“The knee’s already done, so hold onto the ball is what I wish I would have done, to help my teammates,” Bowman said, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
Maoicco then asked Bowman about the fact that Seahawks fans threw popcorn on him after he was injured.
“I remember it, and that’s been with me for a while,” Bowman said. “No matter who gets hurt, you want to make sure they get back up on their feet and show some sign of respect, and I don’t think the Seahawks fans did that at all. So you can’t keep a good man down is basically my message to them.”
They now may have a new message to Bowman come Sunday, and it probably won’t be an apology. Even though it should be.