Seahawks say footing was an issue but not an excuse against Carolina

Bank of America Stadium was recently re-sodded after hosting two games in the span of five days. (AP)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After slipping around on the new turf at Bank of America Stadium, several Seahawks acknowledged that the footing was an issue during Sunday’s game.

No one, though, offered that as anything close to an excuse for what happened during Seattle’s 31-24 loss to Carolina.

“I’m not going to blame the field for the result of the game,” wide receiver Jermaine Kearse said. “You’re going to have to play in all different types of conditions, whether it’s going to be negative-6 degrees or a slippery field. So you just have to be ready for any situation.”

Footing seemed to be a problem for Seattle from the first play from scrimmage, when linebacker Bobby Wagner and free safety Earl Thomas both slipped as Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart ran by for a 59-yard gain. That was far from the only instance.

Quarterback Russell Wilson said he noticed during pregame warmups that the turf was “a little slippery.” He went back to the locker room and changed his cleats, opting for a pair with longer, screw-in spikes. He said it wasn’t a problem for him after that.

Other players, including Wagner, switched from their shorter, molded spikes after the first few series.

The middle of the field at Bank of America Stadium was re-sodded earlier this month after the venue hosted a college bowl game and then the Panthers’ regular-season finale in the span of five days. This story from The Charlotte Observer notes that the field was re-sodded twice earlier in the season after some particularly wet weather in October.

Rain Sunday morning likely contributed to the slippery turf Sunday.

“The field wasn’t the best but they had to play on it, too,” linebacker Bruce Irvin said. “Bottom line, they was just the better team today.”