Seattle got a welcome sight at practice on Thursday: Nick Emmanwori was out there without a walking boot and moving around the sidelines, a notable sign after the Seahawks defensive back missed the start of training camp while dealing with an ankle issue.
Emmanwori’s ankle has been a problem for months, and he opted for surgery in July in hopes of fixing it before the injury could worsen once the season started. He did not take part in drills, but just being present and unhindered was an encouraging step for a player whose 2025 season showed exactly how disruptive he can be.
That rookie year gave Seahawks fans a real glimpse of what Emmanwori can become. He was fast, rangy, explosive and disruptive - sometimes all on the same snap. He hurt his right ankle on his fourth play in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, then returned in Week 5 and still managed to become a major piece of Seattle’s defense.
By the end of the season, Emmanwori had worked his way into the kind of role the Seahawks envisioned when they drafted him in the second round last year. His versatility made life harder on opposing offenses, and his ability to line up in multiple spots helped hide what head coach Mike Macdonald wanted to do defensively. His speed lets him close on ball-carriers and get after quarterbacks, and the expectation is that his game can keep growing from already-brilliant to elite.
There is still some caution here, of course. A lingering ankle injury this early in his career is not ideal, and the Seahawks are clearly watching closely to make sure the surgery solves the issue. Still, seeing Emmanwori at practice with no limp and no boot opens the door to him being ready for Seattle’s season opener on Wednesday, September 9, against the New England Patriots.
And if he does need more time, the Seahawks have at least gotten something useful out of the delay. Bud Clark has taken advantage of extra reps and stood out in Emmanwori’s absence, while Noah Igbinghene has also been surprisingly efficient. So even if Emmanwori isn’t quite ready right away, Seattle has given other roster hopefuls a chance to make their case.
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