The Seattle Seahawks are heading into Super Bowl week with one eye on a rising star-and the other on the injury report. Rookie safety Nick Emmanwori, a key part of Seattle’s defensive resurgence, is now dealing with an injury just days before the biggest game of the season against the New England Patriots.
Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the setback after Wednesday’s practice, offering little detail but noting that Emmanwori was able to walk off under his own power. That’s a good sign, but it still puts the Seahawks in a wait-and-see mode as they prepare for a Patriots offense that thrives on exploiting mismatches.
Emmanwori has been more than just a promising rookie-he’s been a difference-maker. At 6-foot-3 with rangy athleticism and a nose for the ball, he’s quickly become a fan favorite among the “12s.” His ability to close on plays and his physical presence in coverage have stood out all season, but it was his performance in the NFC Championship Game that truly cemented his status.
Facing a Rams offense loaded with talent-including All-Pro wideouts Davante Adams and Puka Nacua-Emmanwori swatted away three passes and helped lock down the deep third. That kind of impact doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a secondary that’s quietly built itself into one of the league’s most reliable units.
Alongside Julian Love, Emmanwori has helped form a safety tandem that’s drawn comparisons to the legendary duo of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. That’s high praise in Seattle, where defensive backs are measured against the gold standard of the Legion of Boom. While Emmanwori isn’t there yet, his trajectory has fans and coaches alike excited about what’s to come.
But now, the Seahawks may have to pivot. If Emmanwori can’t go, Macdonald will likely turn to Ty Okada or Coby Bryant to fill the void.
Okada has quietly put together a solid season, notching a career-high six pass breakups. Bryant, meanwhile, has shown a knack for making plays on the ball, registering seven PBUs and four interceptions.
The depth is there, and Seattle’s coaching staff has done a solid job rotating pieces in the secondary all year. But let’s be clear: this defense hits another gear when Emmanwori is on the field.
His length and instincts are tailor-made to disrupt someone like Stefon Diggs, who thrives on underneath routes and quick separation. Without Emmanwori, that matchup gets trickier.
This isn’t the first time the rookie has landed on the injury report-he was evaluated for a concussion back on December 19. But the timing of this latest issue couldn’t be more critical. The Seahawks are one win away from a championship, and they’d much rather have their emerging star patrolling the back end than watching from the sideline.
A situation to monitor, via the #Seahawks pool report on star S Nick Emmanwori. pic.twitter.com/Kx8vJG82el
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 5, 2026
For now, it’s a situation to monitor. But if Emmanwori can suit up, the Seahawks’ chances of containing the Patriots’ passing game look a whole lot better.