The Seahawks head to Denver at 3-2 for a Thursday night trip that comes with a short week and a chance to shake off the disappointment of the loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It’s still early, and Seattle has room to clean things up. The Broncos don’t look nearly as imposing on defense as they did a year ago, and Bo Nix has been off through the first five weeks.
That sets up a game where a few lesser-known Seahawks could end up making louder noise than expected.
One of the names to watch is Robert Henry Jr. Seattle brought him onto the active roster in early October after Jadarian Price was placed on Injured Reserve.
Henry hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game yet, though he did play in three preseason games with the Washington Commanders. Even so, the door is open a crack for him in Week 6, especially with George Holani’s ball-security issues creating concern and the Seahawks stressing the importance of protecting the football.
He’s a risky option, but Seattle reportedly liked him more than the recently released Velus Jones Jr., and with the run game still trying to get going, Brian Fleury could give him a look.
AJ Barner also fits the profile of a player who could pop. There was plenty of buzz around him entering the season, but so far he’s been pretty quiet.
He’s healthy, and when he’s involved in the passing game, he’s shown he can do damage after the catch. This matchup could help him break through.
Denver has had trouble handling playmaking tight ends, going back to last season when it allowed seven 30-plus-yard pass plays and six 30-plus-yard touchdowns to tight ends and running backs. That issue hasn’t exactly disappeared.
Travis Kelce, Tyler Higbee, and George Kittle all found room against this defense, with Higbee and Kittle each also scoring.
Then there’s Julian Love, who may be positioned for a big day if Denver’s offense keeps sputtering. The Broncos have looked plain and predictable, and their problems in the interior could force Nix into hurried throws and awkward decisions.
That’s a bad combination for a quarterback who has not shown much touch on his passes this season and tends to rely too heavily on arm strength, which has led to overthrows and erratic play downfield. Love already leads the Seahawks with a couple of interceptions, and from his center-field spot in the secondary, he’ll be lurking for the kind of mistake Nix has been making.
It’s less a question of whether he’ll get a chance and more when it comes.
In Other News...
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Just Became Seattle's Biggest Thursday Night X-Factor
Jaxon Smith-Njigbas week of practice offered a small dose of concern when the Seahawks receiver was limited by an ankle issue, but he heads into the matchup with Denver without an injury designation. That matters for a Seattle offense that has leaned on him heavily this season, with Smith-Njigba emerging as one of the teams most important playmakers through the first five games.
The timing only adds to the intrigue on Thursday night. Denver will be missing key defensive pieces in Pat Surtain II and Talanoa Hufanga, which opens a path for Seattle to keep feeding its top target if he looks like himself. For the Seahawks, the question is less about whether Smith-Njigba is available and more about how much damage he can do against a Broncos secondary that is suddenly shorthanded. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Need A Spark From An Unsettling Backfield Situation
The Seahawks kept churning the bottom of the roster this week, signing running back Velus Jones Jr. off the practice squad and letting wide receiver Irv Charles go before bringing him back. It was the latest in a string of recent activations and releases involving the same players, a reminder of how fluid Seattles roster has become as it tries to navigate the back end of the season.
Jones has mostly made his mark on special teams this year, but the move also hints at a bigger role on offense if the team continues to be thin at running back. For a Seattle group looking for a spark, the backfield is suddenly one of the more unsettled spots on the roster, and the next few days could determine how much opportunity Jones gets to prove he can do more than cover kicks. [Read more 🡒]
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Brings Seahawks One Big Question Into Broncos Game
Jaxon Smith-Njigba gave the Seahawks a timely lift Wednesday by turning in a full practice session after being limited earlier in the week with an ankle injury. On a short week, that kind of update matters, especially with Seattle heading into Thursday Night Football against the Broncos and trying to keep its passing game on track.
Still, the abbreviated schedule leaves one real question hanging over the matchup. Full participation is a positive sign, but it does not automatically mean Smith-Njigba is fully over the ankle issue, so the Seahawks will be watching closely right up until kickoff to see how he responds. [Read more 🡒]