Vannett was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after he left Thursday's preseason game against Minnesota, according to seattlepi.com.
High-ankle sprains have a bad reputation among football fans and do often lead to extended absences, but there's still a wide range for the recovery timetable, depending on the severity of the given injury. While it's not unheard of for a player to miss an entire season because of a high-ankle sprain, there have also been instances in which players were back at full health within a couple weeks. Vannett had to use crutches after he left Thursday's game, but head coach Pete Carroll did say that the team's training staff was "really pleased" with how the ankle responded to initial testing. Vannett still faces an uphill battle to be ready by Week 1, and with Jimmy Graham (knee) also uncertain, Luke Willson may have to play nearly all of the offensive snaps. A late third-round draft pick (94th overall), Vannett earned a reputation for his blocking at Ohio State, but his lack of speed (4.85 40-yard dash) will likely cap his upside as a receiver. He does still have the potential to develop into a solid NFL starter, particularly if he's in a run-oriented offense that has plenty of pass-catching talent at other positions. Seattle could be an ideal long-term fit if the team moves on from Jimmy Graham after this season.