Bobby Wagner still isn’t on an NFL field, and for Seattle fans, that absence lands hard this week.
When the Seahawks meet the Washington Commanders on Sunday, it will be the first time in 15 seasons that Wagner doesn’t take the field. It’s already Week 3, so this isn’t exactly new news - but against Washington, the reality hits a little differently.
Wagner’s track record makes the gap even louder. Last year, Pro Football Focus ranked him ninth among all linebackers, a strong showing for a player still sitting without a team. That kind of production is exactly why plenty of fans are looking around the league and wondering why more general managers haven’t made the move.
Some teams could clearly use the help. Coming into Week 3, seven teams were allowing at least 30 points per game, including the 2-0 Buffalo Bills.
The Bills have Josh Allen at quarterback, which makes that kind of defensive leakage more survivable. Without a player like Allen, it’s a far more dangerous place to be - something the Colts know all too well after giving up 71 points.
The Chargers were another possible landing spot. Their defense hasn’t been a disaster, but linebacker help would still make sense, and Wagner would fit the Jim Harbaugh mold while also returning to Los Angeles, his home. Still, there’s a bigger question hanging over all of it: maybe Wagner simply isn’t interested in playing again.
Von Miller, Wagner’s former teammate, offered his own read on the situation, saying, "If he wanted to play football, he’d be on the team. He’s a man of many talents.
He went and got his master’s degree during the season last year. If he wanted to be on the team, he would.
I think it’s probably something else that he’s doing right now.”
Wagner has not formally retired, which keeps the door cracked open. But Seattle doesn’t look like the place for a return.
Mike Macdonald’s defense didn’t fit him two years ago, and it doesn’t seem to fit now. Ernest Jones IV has played well, and the Seahawks have only allowed 17 points total, so there isn’t an obvious opening there anyway.
If Wagner does come back, the Seahawks don’t appear to be the destination. The Colts would make sense, even if that doesn’t seem likely to happen. For now, though, one of the league’s most recognizable linebackers is still sitting out, and for Seahawks fans, that just doesn’t feel right.
In Other News...
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For a team still very much in the mix, Jones comments served as a reminder that the response matters as much as the result. Seattle has built its run on resilience, and after a game that snapped the streak, the real test is whether that confidence shows up quickly or gives way to a longer slide. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Rookie Picture Just Got More Concerning After Week 3
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Elsewhere, the picture was less encouraging. Running back Jadarian Price had a rough outing, highlighted by a fumble that cut into his playing time, and the teams roster shuffling only adds to the uncertainty around the group. Seattle brought back defensive tackle Uso Seumalo and moved guard Anthony Bradford to injured reserve, while injuries at safety have further thinned the available options, leaving the rookie pipeline under a little more pressure than the Seahawks likely wanted this early. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Loss Reopened A Roster Debate Fans Wont Ignore
The Seahawks loss to Washington did more than add another mark in the standings. It pushed a few familiar roster questions back into the spotlight, especially the ones that have been hanging around the edges of the season for weeks. Special teams has been one area of concern, and the decision to move on from Cody White keeps looking more consequential when that unit struggles to find steady footing.
Up front, the right guard spot is still in flux, with Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens continuing to share the conversation rather than settle it. And while Rashid Shaheed brings a different kind of speed to the offense, the fit still invites debate when the line is not holding up and injuries keep shaping the weekly picture. The Seahawks can point to the moving parts as context, but the larger issue is whether the roster as built is giving them enough stability where they need it most. [Read more 🡒]