Two former Seahawks turned in eye-opening debuts for new teams in Week 1, and both made their mark in different ways.
Boye Mafe wasted little time showing what he can bring to the Cincinnati Bengals. The edge rusher, now part of a revamped defensive front, came up with a first-quarter recovery of a Bucky Irving fumble that helped set up a Cincinnati touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Later, Mafe delivered the kind of play he’s paid to make: pressure and a sack. That sack also forced Baker Mayfield’s third lost fumble of the game.
Matched up with elite left tackle Tristan Wirfs, Mafe wasn’t a factor in the rush right away. But Mayfield’s sense that he had all day in the pocket proved costly, and Mafe was there when it mattered.
Cincinnati then used five minutes on the clock on the next drive before kicking a field goal to stretch the lead to 33-20. The Bengals held on for a 33-27 win, and Mafe finished with involvement in two of Cincinnati’s four takeaways.
For a defense that has taken plenty of heat in recent years, that’s a strong opening statement.
On the other sideline, another ex-Seahawk helped a different team start the season with a win. Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak picked up a 27-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins in his debut, and while Ashton Jeanty piled up 147 yards and two touchdowns, the game ball went to Cody White.
White, who was released by Seattle during roster cuts and later signed to the Raiders practice squad, was elevated for game day and played 11 offensive snaps along with 14 on special teams. He didn’t catch a pass and was targeted only once, but his value showed up on special teams in a big way.
White made a touchdown-saving tackle on Dolphins returner Jaylen Wright, and that stop helped flip the afternoon. Instead of Miami making it a 27-20 game late in the third quarter, the Dolphins turned that red-zone trip into a missed field goal, came away with no points, and never got back into the Raiders’ red zone the rest of the way.
Riq Woolen also had a quiet statistical line in his Philadelphia Eagles debut, finishing with one tackle and no passes defensed. But he stayed clean with no penalties, and his presence helped keep the Washington Commanders passing game from getting much traction for most of the afternoon. Jayden Daniels had no success throwing the ball when Woolen was the primary cover guy, and Terry McLaurin might has well have been on a milk carton as a missing person.
In Other News...
Three Former Seahawks Are Still Waiting For Their Next Chance
As the new NFL season begins, three familiar names tied to Seattle are still on the open market. Will Dissly, Tyler Lockett and Bobby Wagner are all unsigned right now, a reminder of how quickly even established veterans can find themselves in an uncertain spot once roster cuts and cap decisions settle in. Each left a different mark on the Seahawks, and each has a recent team story that helps explain why the next step has not come as quickly as expected.
Dissly was released by the Chargers after a failed physical, though he is now healthy. Lockett moved on from the Titans and joined the Raiders, only to wind up without a roster spot as the season approached. Wagner, meanwhile, was cut by Seattle in a salary-cap move, making his current status especially notable for a player who long defined the middle of the Seahawks defense. None of the three has landed yet, but with experience and proven production on their side, it would not be a surprise if their waiting ends before long. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Got A Crucial Sam Darnold Timeline Update
Sam Darnolds glute injury has already put the Seahawks into an early-season adjustment, and the initial timeline gives Seattle at least one more week to plan without its presumed starter. He is expected to miss Week 2 against the Cardinals, with Week 3 against the Commanders still very much in play as a possibility, which means the Seahawks are working through the kind of quarterback uncertainty that can shape the first month of a season.
Ian Rapoports update at least gave Seattle a clearer frame on the wait, suggesting Darnold could be back as soon as Week 3 and might miss only one or two games. In the meantime, Drew Locks strong showing in Week 1 bought the Seahawks some breathing room, but the bigger question now is how long the team has to keep that backup momentum going before it can hand the offense back to Darnold. [Read more 🡒]
Kenneth Walker's Chiefs Debut Gave Seahawks Fans Mixed Feelings
Kenneth Walkers first game in a Chiefs uniform gave Seattle fans plenty to process. After leaving the Seahawks in the offseason, the former Seattle back made an immediate impression in Kansas City, piling up 173 rushing yards on 23 carries and adding three catches for 18 yards. It was the kind of debut that reminded everyone in Seattle just how much burst and balance Walker brought to the backfield during the Seahawks Super Bowl-winning run last season.
For Seahawks fans, the reaction was bound to be mixed. There was satisfaction in seeing a former title contributor land in a prominent role with another contender, but there was also the familiar sting of watching him thrive somewhere else so quickly. Playing alongside Patrick Mahomes, Walker set a rushing standard for a back in that offense right away, and it only sharpened the question of what Seattle will miss most after his departure. [Read more 🡒]