Lane fails exam; Seahawks, Texans make it work

CB Jeremy Lane failed his physical exam in Texas Tuesday, according to the Houston Chronicle, but the Seahawks are keeping LT Duane Brown, at the cost of another draft pick. The trade Monday between the teams was maintained when the Seahawks replaced Lane primarily by improving the 2018 pick in the deal from the fifth round to the third round.

Houston also agreed to give Seattle a 2018 fifth-round pick. The clubs kept intact the part of the deal that sent a No. 2 pick in 2019 to the Texans.

The problem for Seattle is that it temporarily has a 54th player, one over the limit, as well as the guaranteed remaining portion of Lane’s 2018 contract, about $2.1 million. Not to mention invalidating all those Instagram farewell messages to J-Lane.

He was a member of the 2012 draft class that was such a big part of the Seahawks’ success, but this season was inconsistent and had health problems. Lane had a variety of injuries that limited him to six snaps over the past three games. Those snaps were the first six Sunday against Houston, after which coach Pete Carroll said Lane sustained a thigh bruise that kept him out of the rest of the game.

He sat out the previous two games with a groin muscle strain, and also jammed two fingers during practice last week. None of those seemed serious, but no reason was given for the failed exam.

The Seahawks seem set at cornerback with impressive rookie Shaquill Griffin as the starter and newcomer Justin Coleman as the slot corner. The Seahawks could cut Lane, but his deal will count against the salary cap. And they no longer can deal him after the passing of the trade deadline Tuesday. If they decide to keep Lane, they could cut one of the 11 offensive linemen, the only position with a real surplus.

In order to get the remaining $4.9 million on Brown’s contract under the cap, the Seahawks Tuesday re-did the contract of Russell Wilson, converting $6.26 million of his base salary into a bonus paid immediately.

The Seahawks don’t want their remaining minimal cap room to dwindle to nothing in case they have more emergency needs.

The departure of the third round pick means the Seahawks currently have no pick in the 2018 draft between the first round and the fourth round, having dealt the No. 2 pick to the New York Jets in September along with WR Jermaine Kearse for DT Sheldon Richardson.