The Seattle Seahawks are heading into Week 10 with a chance to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since Weeks 1 and 2, and they’re doing it with some roster shuffling to help cover the gaps.
Seattle announced Saturday that cornerback Trevon Diggs and offensive tackle Bobby Hart were elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster ahead of Sunday’s road matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Seahawks are dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball, and those moves give them a little more flexibility going into a game against a Raiders team led by former Seahawks offensive coordinator and current head coach Klint Kubiak.
Diggs has been moved around the roster several times this season, but Seattle has kept him around as a low-risk, high-reward addition for the secondary. He hasn’t been on the field consistently, yet he still offers value because he gives the Seahawks another man-coverage option.
Through four games this season, Diggs has logged 27 defensive snaps and two special teams snaps. His most recent action came in Seattle’s 20-3 Week 7 home win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hart’s elevation comes at a time when the Seahawks’ offensive line has been hit hard. Left tackle Charles Cross (ankle) and left guard Quenton Nelson (knee) are both not on IR, but they are still out for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. That leaves Hart in position to provide depth at tackle or guard if the staff decides rookie Beau Stephens isn’t ready.
Hart made his first regular-season appearance last week against the Arizona Cardinals, playing three snaps. That included both of the “Barnyard” plays with tight end AJ Barner lined up under center.
In Other News...
Seahawks Head Into Raiders Game With A Bigger Injury Problem Than Expected
The Seahawks are heading into their Week 10 matchup with the Raiders carrying a much heavier injury load than they likely expected, and the timing is less than ideal with the bye week looming right after. Seattle will be without defensive lineman Leonard Williams, left tackle Charles Cross, quarterback Sam Darnold and left guard Quenton Nelson, a stretch of absences that puts pressure on both fronts of the roster as the team tries to stay afloat at 5-5.
There is a little better news on the way back, though, with edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed expected to return after missing previous games. Even so, the Seahawks are walking into a game that now looks less like a routine November test and more like a survival exercise, with the roster thinned out just enough to make every snap against Las Vegas feel a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face Travel Concern Before Raiders Game As FAA Chaos Lingers
The Seahawks are heading into a travel week with a little more uncertainty than usual after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop Friday because of communication issues affecting multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers. The stop was lifted by about 5:15 p.m. PT, but the ripple effects were immediate, with thousands of flight cancellations and delays expected to keep snaring travelers well into the weekend.
Seattle is scheduled to take its charter flight to Las Vegas on Saturday for Sundays game against the Raiders, and coach Mike Macdonald said the team will adjust plans as needed. For a club trying to keep its routine intact on the road, the timing of the FAA disruption adds one more variable to a trip that already comes with enough football pressure on its own. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks May Have Found Their Answer For A Growing Defensive Problem
Nick Emmanwori has become one of the more interesting pieces in Mike Macdonalds defense, and the Seahawks have leaned on the second-year safety in exactly the kind of assignments that can tell you a lot about a players future. He has been used in a variety of roles, but his work in coverage against top tight ends has stood out, including a strong showing against Arizonas Trey McBride, where he kept receptions out of his area.
That usage is no accident, especially with another difficult matchup looming against Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers. Emmanworis blend of size, range and versatility has already drawn comparisons to Baltimores Kyle Hamilton, and Seattle appears to be testing whether he can help solve a growing problem in the middle of the field while also expanding what this defense can do around him. [Read more 🡒]