Emanuel Wilson looked like an afterthought when the Seahawks drafted Jadarian Price in the first round. Instead, Mike Macdonald’s comments have given the former Green Bay Packers backup a real shot to stick around.
Seattle brought Wilson in early in the offseason after losing its reigning Super Bowl MVP and workhorse back in free agency. Filling the Kenneth Walker III role was already a major ask, especially with a thin running back class in the NFL Draft. Then the Price pick seemed to push Wilson further down the ladder, even threatening his chances of making the roster at all.
That’s why Wilson has spent training camp grinding away at the parts of his game that can make or break a backup running back’s value, especially his work as a receiver. And Macdonald liked what he saw.
“I wouldn’t be surprised, but you kind of have a brand of ball that you’re used to,” Macdonald told the media. “And then when guys are out there making plays outside of the box you put them in, it’s awesome.
Just shows you how talented he is. He made some great plays today.”
Wilson’s passing-game work has been a slow build. He caught a career-high 15 passes for 99 yards last season, modest numbers on paper but notable considering he was buried behind Josh Jacobs on the Packers’ depth chart. Jacobs handled the kind of workload that leaves little room for anyone else to carve out touches.
The numbers still show why Wilson has an uphill climb. Pro Football Focus gave him a 37.0 receiving grade last season.
Before that, he posted marks of 66.3 and 64.0 in his first two years. Even so, there are signs he can help.
He has dropped only two passes and lost one fumble in three seasons, and he’s averaged 9.8 YAC as a receiver.
For now, the Seahawks appear set to lean on Price as the workhorse, with George Holani next in line. Holani brings sturdy blocking and dependable hands in the passing game, giving Brian Fleury’s offense a profile that looks a bit like a Zach Charbonnet 2.0.
That leaves Wilson trying to win his spot the hard way. He’s a crafty, efficient runner between the tackles, but his roster case depends on showing enough growth as a pass catcher to matter in a crowded backfield. That’s a tough ask with Price and Holani healthy, and his path got even steeper after the draft.
Still, he’s not fading quietly. Price may be at the top of the current pecking order, but he’s still a rookie, and he has to prove he’s ready like everybody else. If he isn’t as efficient or as prepared as the Seahawks need, the door could swing back open for the veterans.
Replacing Kenneth Walker III was never going to be simple. Seattle still looks like a team that knows it can’t afford to overlook any option in its effort to keep the running game intact.
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The attention shifted this week when Price was held out of practice again because of leg soreness, a brief interruption at a time when every rep matters. Mike Macdonald downplayed the concern and said the setback is not serious, with Price expected back in a few days, but the Seahawks will still be eager to get him back on the field and continue building on the momentum he created early in camp. [Read more 🡒]
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He has framed the challenge in broader terms, pointing to Michael Jordan and the Bulls as an example of how a title team can keep evolving rather than standing still. For Seattle, the focus now is less about celebrating what came before and more about building the kind of culture that can carry another run, with the next step depending on how quickly the new pieces fit together. [Read more 🡒]