Jarran Reed, Seahawks Anchor, Prepares for a Wildcard Matchup Against a Familiar - and Unexpected - Face
Jarran Reed turns 33 this week, and while the veteran defensive tackle is already thinking about a future filled with coaching his son and showing up for his daughters’ cheer practices, he’s still got unfinished business on the field. And this Sunday, that business includes chasing down a quarterback who, frankly, no one expected to see in an NFL huddle again - Philip Rivers.
Yes, that Philip Rivers.
The 44-year-old former Pro Bowler is making a stunning return to the league, stepping in for the Indianapolis Colts after a rash of quarterback injuries forced the team to look far outside the box. Rivers signed with the Colts on Tuesday and, after just three practices, he’s set to lead Indy into Lumen Field for a 3:25 p.m. CST kickoff against a red-hot Seahawks squad.
Reed has some history with Rivers. Back in 2018, when Rivers was still slinging it for the Chargers, Reed notched a sack against him in a 25-17 Seattle loss.
But that was then. This is now - and now, Rivers is coming off the couch after nearly five years away from the NFL, having spent the past few seasons coaching high school ball in Alabama.
Still, Reed isn’t taking the matchup lightly.
“You still got to respect the game, man,” he said. “He was a great quarterback in this league when he was playing.
We can’t look past it. Can’t take it for granted.
Like I say all the time, we got to respect our grind. Respect our process.
And we just got to play good football.”
That’s the mindset Seattle’s defense has carried all season. With their “M.O.B.
Ties” mantra - short for “Mission Over BS” - the Seahawks have built one of the league’s stingiest defenses, currently ranking second in scoring defense. It’s more than just a catchphrase.
It’s a standard.
“It’s something we came up with as players - the leadership group, the whole team,” Reed explained. “It’s the standard we set for ourselves and the team.
It’s about how we play, how we interact, our characteristics, how we carry ourselves. It’s everything.”
That identity has fueled Seattle to a 10-3 record, tied atop the NFC West with the Rams - who, fittingly, are next up on the schedule. But first, they’ve got to handle a Colts team that’s not just rolling out a 44-year-old quarterback, but also features the NFL’s leading rusher in Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor has been a force all season, racking up 1,356 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. And for Reed and the rest of the Seahawks’ front, that’s priority No. 1.
“You can’t even begin to pass rush or nothing without stopping the run,” Reed said. “That’s on us up front.
If we’re not stopping the run, then we have a problem. We take pride in that every week, every practice, every time we hit the field.”
Reed knows what it takes to set that tone in the trenches. He’s just getting back into rhythm after missing time with a fractured hand.
The injury came in a Week 7 win over Houston, and while he initially returned quickly - even playing just 10 days post-surgery - the hand didn’t hold up. He reinjured it against Washington and needed a second procedure, which sidelined him for four games.
“To have surgery and then I think I played 10 days later to refracture it - it was painful,” Reed admitted. “But we had to make a decision that was best for us in the long haul, and we made it. Now we back.”
And just in time.
With playoff positioning on the line, a division title still up for grabs, and a surprise quarterback on the other side of the ball, Seattle’s defense will need every ounce of its identity, discipline, and grit to keep the mission on track.
The M.O.B. is back at full strength. And they’ve got work to do.