The Seahawks took a hit at tight end on Thursday, and it’s a big one. Elijah Arroyo is headed for season-ending shoulder surgery, wiping out the rest of his second NFL campaign before it ever had a chance to get rolling.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news, saying, "Source: Seahawks TE Elijah Arroyo is undergoing shoulder surgery today and will miss the rest of the season," Schefter reports.
That comes on the same day Seattle confirmed a much brighter update elsewhere on the roster: running back Zach Charbonnet was activated off the physically unable to perform list. But the Arroyo news landed as the ugly part of the Seahawks’ injury picture ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.
Arroyo was supposed to be a bigger part of the offense this season. Instead, his year ends with just one catch on two targets for 17 yards and no touchdowns. The 23-year-old tight end had already flashed a little more in preseason, catching four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, which helped build some hope around what might come next.
Last season, during Seattle’s Super Bowl run, Arroyo finished with 15 catches on 26 targets for 179 yards and one touchdown. He had entered 2026 as a second-year player expected to take another step after being drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Now the Seahawks have to move on without him. AJ Barner is set to remain the top tight end, with Erid Saubert and Nick Kallerup behind him on the depth chart. And if Seattle can push its 3-3 record in the weeks ahead, tight end could become a position to watch before the NFL trade deadline in November.
For now, though, the storyline is simple: the Seahawks have lost a young pass-catching option for the season, and Arroyo’s focus turns to 2027.
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