The Seattle Seahawks are set to get a major piece of their defense back in Week 4, with safety Julian Love expected to play against the Los Angeles Chargers.
That matters for Seattle. Love was out for the Week 3 loss after dealing with a calf issue, and the defense felt the difference.
The Seahawks held up well in the first two games with Love on the field, allowing 17 points, but in his absence against the Washington Commanders they gave up 26 points to backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. Washington finished with 33 points overall, though one touchdown came on an interception return for a score, something Love obviously had no control over.
Love had been limited earlier in the week before moving to full participation ahead of Sunday, which is a good sign for a secondary that looked far less steady without him.
Seattle could also have company coming back at safety. Ty Okada, who has missed the first three games with a hamstring injury, was a full participant on Friday and is officially listed as questionable. That leaves open the possibility that the Seahawks wait one more week and stick with Rodney Thomas II in the starting role before Okada potentially returns in Week 5.
Thomas has held up reasonably well while Okada has been sidelined, but the drop-off was more obvious when AJ Finley had to fill in for Love last week. Getting Love back should stabilize the back end of the defense.
There’s also another injury situation worth watching on the offensive side. Running back Zach Charbonnet could be back in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers after dealing with a knee injury he suffered against the 49ers in last season’s playoffs. Once he’s healthy, he could take over as RB1 for Seattle.
The Seahawks have struggled in the red zone without Charbonnet, and the lack of production on the ground has shown up in a glaring way: no Seattle running back has a rushing touchdown this season. Charbonnet had 12 rushing touchdowns last year.
Love’s return comes after a strong run of play before the injury. He had picked off passes in three straight games, including the Super Bowl last year against the New England Patriots.
In Other News...
Seahawks Fans May Have A Week 4 Viewing Problem
The Seahawks get an early chance to test themselves against the AFC West this week, but fans outside the Pacific Northwest may have to do a little work to see it. Seattles matchup with the Chargers is set for CBS at 1:25 p.m. PT, and the regional broadcast footprint is limited, with coverage centered mostly on the Pacific Northwest and Southern California.
Andrew Catalon and Logan Ryan are on the call, and the timing is awkward for a fan base that will have to keep an eye on where the game lands before kickoff. The good news is that Seattle has several nationally televised games coming up, so this shouldnt be a season-long headache, but Week 4 could still leave plenty of viewers searching for an alternate plan. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Have One O-Line Problem They Havent Solved
The Seahawks did not do much to change the look of their offensive line this offseason, and that quiet approach has left one lingering question hanging over the roster. Their only notable addition was fifth-round pick Beau Stephens, a player who was viewed as a possible starter, but Seattle has kept him on the sideline and gone with Christian Haynes instead as it continues sorting out the interior of the line.
For a team trying to give its offense more stability, that decision keeps the spotlight on a spot that still feels unresolved. Even with Stephens in the mix, the Seahawks have not found a clean answer there yet, and one mock draft has already pushed the conversation forward by linking Seattle to interior lineman Kade Pieper in the 2027 NFL draft as a possible long-term fix. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Backfield Suddenly Has A New Reason For Hope
Zach Charbonnets return to practice gives the Seahawks a timely lift in a backfield that has been looking for stability early in the season. The second-year running back has been on the physically unable to perform list, but being designated to return opens the door for him to get back into game action as soon as Week 5, a welcome development for a team trying to sort out its rotation on the fly.
Seattles immediate plan still leans on Emanuel Wilson and George Holani at running back in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but the depth chart has already shifted again. Rookie Jadarian Price was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least four games, so the Seahawks are heading into the next stretch with one less option and at least some hope that Charbonnets comeback can eventually settle things down. [Read more 🡒]