The NFC West race may be only three weeks old, but the Seahawks could already get a useful break from the other side of the division.
Puka Nacua is dealing with a groin injury, missed Week 2, and now looks headed toward sitting out Week 3 as well. Rams coach Sean McVay said the receiver wasn’t making "great progress." Nacua does not have a sports hernia and is not expected to be out for a long time, but there’s still a big difference between being unavailable for one week and missing another.
That matters because the Rams are staring at a far tougher assignment next. After opening the season with a blowout loss to the 49ers in Australia, Los Angeles could be looking at a 1-2 start if Nacua can’t go against the Denver Broncos.
Week 2 was a much softer landing spot. The Rams faced the New York Giants, a team that was already shaky and then lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to injury during the game.
Los Angeles didn’t need Nacua to get by there. Davante Adams picked up the slack in a big way, catching eight passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
Denver is a different animal. The Broncos bring an elite defense, an efficient offense, and a secondary headlined by Patrick Surtain II.
Even with Nacua available, Sean McVay’s offense would have its hands full. Without him, the challenge only gets steeper.
If the Rams do stumble to 1-2, the Seahawks and 49ers could be the ones in position to separate early. Seattle hosts the Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders on Sunday, while San Francisco welcomes the Arizona Cardinals. By the end of Week 3, Seattle and San Francisco should be tied atop the division, with the Rams and Cardinals two games back.
That’s the ideal setup for Seattle, and it looks realistic if Denver handles Los Angeles and the Seahawks take care of business. Seattle should be favored against Washington, especially if Sam Darnold returns after the glute injury he suffered in Week 1. He is trending toward playing.
In Other News...
Seahawks Fans Already Have One Worry About Rashid Shaheed
Rashid Shaheed has been part of the Seahawks early-season conversation for reasons Seattle probably did not want. Through the first two games, he has just four catches on nine targets for 39 yards, and his work on special teams has not been spotless either, including a fumble that was recovered by a teammate. For a player who re-signed with Seattle on a three-year contract, the slow start has already nudged him into the spotlight.
The concern is not only the stat line, but whether Shaheed can be trusted to settle in as a dependable No. 2 receiver while the offense deals with quarterback injuries and backup Drew Lock keeps things moving. Seattle has needed someone behind the top target to create a steady threat, and Shaheed has not yet provided that kind of consistency. There is still time for the role to take shape, but the first two weeks have given fans a reason to watch this one closely. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Macdonald Just Learned An Early Seahawks Lesson The Hard Way
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For the Seahawks, the episode is less about one interview than about how Macdonald settles into the broader demands of the job. Any early misstep can shape how a coach is viewed inside the building and outside it, especially with ownership watching closely and media interactions coming with the territory. Macdonald appears to understand the stakes, and the next test will be whether that lesson changes how he navigates those conversations moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Dickson Is Giving The Seahawks An Edge Few Fans Notice
Michael Dicksons value shows up in the kind of places that are easy to miss unless youre charting every drive. Through nine punts this season, the Seahawks punter has allowed zero return yards and pinned five kicks inside the 20, turning a routine special-teams snap into a quiet win for field position. For a team that wants every hidden edge it can find, that kind of precision matters.
Dicksons work has helped Seattles defense start with better leverage and has given the offense a cleaner field to work with when possessions flip. It is not the flashiest part of the game, but it can change the rhythm of a matchup in ways fans often only notice after the fact, when an opponent keeps beginning long drives from deep in its own end. [Read more 🡒]