Just a couple of months ago, it looked like Riq Woolen’s time with the Seahawks might be nearing an unceremonious end. The former Pro Bowler had slipped down the depth chart, his tackling had become inconsistent, and the flashes of brilliance from his rookie year felt like a distant memory.
Trade rumors started swirling, but with his on-field struggles mounting, there were no takers. Fast forward to the NFC Divisional Round, and Woolen didn’t just remind people why he once looked like a draft-day steal-he made a statement.
Woolen’s performance against the 49ers wasn’t just solid-it was timely, impactful, and, most importantly, real. He played 73.3% of the defensive snaps, outpacing Josh Jobe in the rotation, and made every one of them count.
He broke up two passes, allowed just a single catch on three targets for 19 yards, and when Brock Purdy threw his way, the result was a passer rating of 56.3. That’s not just a bounce-back-that’s a corner locking in when it matters most.
And while it might’ve looked like a sudden resurgence to some, the truth is, Woolen’s been quietly trending upward for a while now.
Let’s rewind to the beginning of the season. That same 49ers offense lit him up in Week 1.
Purdy went 3-for-4 targeting him, racking up a touchdown and a near-perfect 156.3 passer rating. Woolen was flagged twice and looked out of rhythm.
Through the first five games, he gave up 208 receiving yards-numbers that raised eyebrows and questions about whether his rookie success was a fluke.
But here’s where it gets interesting: over the next 12 games, that number dropped to just 119 receiving yards allowed. That’s not just improvement-that’s a corner recalibrating midseason and finding his footing again.
Some might point to his reduced playing time as the reason for the improved numbers, but the coverage stats tell a different story. On the year, Woolen allowed only 39 receptions on 72 targets-a completion rate of 54.2%.
He held opposing quarterbacks to a 75.5 passer rating and gave up a career-best 8.9 yards per completion. Those are the kinds of metrics that defensive coordinators love to see, especially from a player still developing in his fourth year.
Now, it hasn’t been perfect. His 12.8% missed tackle rate shows there’s still room to grow, especially when it comes to physicality in the open field.
But that’s not a career-worst number, and it’s not disqualifying. It just means the ceiling is still higher.
Woolen burst onto the scene as a rookie with six interceptions-tied for the league lead-and earned a Pro Bowl nod as a fifth-round pick. That kind of debut sets the bar high.
Maybe too high. But what we’re seeing now is a player who’s weathered the sophomore slump, fought through adversity, and is starting to rediscover the form that once made him one of the most exciting young corners in the league.
The Seahawks’ defense as a whole turned in one of its best performances of the season in that playoff win over San Francisco. But Woolen’s resurgence is a storyline worth spotlighting.
He’s not just surviving-he’s starting to thrive again. And with the postseason heating up, Seattle might be getting the best version of Riq Woolen at exactly the right time.