The Seattle Seahawks are heading into Super Bowl LX with momentum, confidence, and a defense that’s been the backbone of their success all season. But with just days to go before the biggest game of the year, there’s a potential shakeup looming in their secondary that could force head coach Mike Macdonald into some tough decisions.
Rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori, who’s quietly become one of Seattle’s most important pieces on the back end, suffered a low-ankle sprain late in Wednesday’s practice. He left the field and didn’t return, and on Thursday, he was sidelined entirely - not even participating in walkthroughs. That’s not the kind of trend you want to see leading up to a Super Bowl, especially for a player whose role has grown significantly over the course of the season.
Emmanwori might be listed as the backup strong safety behind Coby Bryant on the depth chart, but that doesn’t tell the full story. The Seahawks leaned heavily on nickel packages this year, often deploying five defensive backs to counter today’s pass-heavy offenses.
And in that look, Emmanwori is their nickelback - a hybrid role that requires the physicality to defend the run and the agility to cover slot receivers. In short, he’s not just a backup; he’s a key chess piece in Seattle’s defensive scheme.
The rookie out of South Carolina isn’t lacking confidence. “I’ll be good to go,” he said Wednesday night.
But as of Thursday, the injury report tells a different story - he’s officially questionable for the game. And even if he suits up, the question becomes: how effective can he be with limited mobility against a Patriots offense that thrives on exploiting mismatches?
If Emmanwori can’t go, Macdonald has a couple of options. He could shift his defensive personnel, potentially moving away from his preferred nickel look.
Or he could lean more heavily on Ty Okada, who’s seen rotational snaps but hasn’t played a major role in high-leverage situations. Either way, it’s a wrinkle the Seahawks would rather not deal with heading into a game where every matchup matters.
On the other side of the field, the Patriots got a bit of good news. Linebacker Harold Landry III, who missed the AFC Championship with an ankle injury of his own, was back on the practice field Thursday. Like Emmanwori, he’s listed as questionable for the Super Bowl, but his return to practice is a positive sign for a New England defense that relies on his ability to pressure the quarterback and set the edge in the run game.
So, as we inch closer to kickoff, both teams have injury concerns on defense - but the Seahawks’ situation may be the more disruptive. Emmanwori’s availability could directly impact how Seattle defends the middle of the field, an area the Patriots are more than capable of attacking. It’s a subplot worth watching as Super Bowl LX draws near.