Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has admitted that the return of Michael Bennett to their sideline inspired them to victory.
Bennett was stretchered off in the first quarter of the Seahawks' win over the Houston Texans, but returned to the sideline after he was given the all-clear from a neck injury in hospital.
Sherman told the Tacoma News-Tribune: "It was an emotional time for us as a defense. He's kind of the spark plug in our defense. He came back [to the sidelines] with tears in his eyes.
"It kind of got us teary-eyed, it got us emotional, it got us ready to go. Because guys you grind with, guys that you fight with, you never want to see them out of the game. You never want to see them carted off in that kind of way. It's hard on your heart."
Seattle moved to 4-0 in their NFL season for the first time in the history of the franchise.
