The Seahawks head into Week 10 with a thinner lineup than they’d like, and the timing isn’t ideal with a bye waiting in Week 11. Seattle will be without four players against the Las Vegas Raiders after head coach Mike Macdonald ruled out defensive lineman Leonard Williams, left tackle Charles Cross, quarterback Sam Darnold, and left guard Quenton Nelson on Friday.
The good news is that the injury report wasn’t all bad. Edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu is expected to play after missing a couple of games, and wide receiver plus kick and punt returner Rashid Shaheed should be back as well after sitting out a couple of games.
Williams is the name that stands out most from the group of absences. He’s Seattle’s most versatile defensive lineman, and his recent extension makes every missed game worth watching closely.
He’s 32, and the concern is less about this week alone than what it could mean over the life of the deal. Williams is set to make as much as $90 million over the next three seasons through 2029, and there’s no guaranteed money beginning in 2028.
That’s where the long-term conversation starts. Williams has been durable for most of his career, but he’s now set to miss two straight games.
If the missed time keeps piling up, Seattle may eventually have to ask whether he remains part of the plan beyond 2027. He’s been a terrific player and a fantastic teammate, but the NFL rarely gives teams much grace when age and availability start to collide.
For Sunday, though, the Seahawks still look positioned to handle business. The Raiders are set to start rookie Fernando Mendoza for the first time, and that’s a tough spot for any quarterback, especially against Mike Macdonald’s defense. Even if Williams is out, Seattle should still be in good shape.
The biggest swing factor may be Drew Lock, who is starting in place of Sam Darnold. If he keeps the turnovers down, the Seahawks should be fine.
If he doesn’t, the game can change in a hurry. A 5-5 record heading into the bye would be a rough place to land.
At 6-4, it’s not perfect, but it works.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Seahawks May Have Won The NFC West By Standing Still
The trade deadline came and went with the Seahawks doing nothing, and in this division that may have been the smartest move of all. While the NFC West spent the week shuffling pieces and weighing short-term fixes, Seattle held its ground and avoided the kind of deadline maneuvering that can look bold in the moment and costly later.
Arizona passed on turning veterans like Budda Baker and Josh Sweat into future assets, the Rams never really addressed their roster holes, and San Francisco made only modest additions in DeForest Buckner and Keenan Allen without fully solving its bigger issues. Against that backdrop, Seattles patience suddenly looks less like inactivity and more like discipline, especially in a division where the other contenders left just enough doubt to make standing still feel like progress. [Read more 🡒]