Sean McVay’s latest update on Myles Garrett is the kind of news Seahawks fans can file away and smile about.
The Los Angeles Rams were supposed to be the team that set the tone in the NFC West after swinging big for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Instead, the picture has gotten a lot murkier, and McVay admitted they don’t know whether Garrett will even open his 21-day practice window soon. He has missed all but one game, and his season debut didn’t exactly calm any nerves.
That’s a sharp turn for a Rams team that was already getting talked up before the season even started. Now, with Garrett sidelined and the team looking far more vulnerable than expected, the path through the division suddenly looks a lot less intimidating.
Seattle doesn’t face Los Angeles until late in the year, but the Seahawks can still make up ground before then. The Rams still have 10 games left, including two against Seattle, and they have no reason to punt the season after giving up their first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns. Even so, there are real questions about how aggressive they’ll be with Garrett if his knee issue keeps dragging on.
That injury has been around since last season, and the Browns were aware of it. If it continues to linger, the Rams may have to decide whether it’s worth pushing him late in the year. With Davante Adams also out for the long run, plus special teams issues, a regressing and aging quarterback, and a roster that has more holes than it first appeared, the Rams may not want to take unnecessary chances with their star pass rusher.
The rest of the division hasn’t exactly seized the moment, either. The San Francisco 49ers have been hit by injuries again and just took their first loss of the season, which leaves the door open for the defending champions to climb back into the race.
None of this means Garrett is done for the year. But it does mean the Rams’ grand plan looks a lot less certain than it did when everyone was ready to hand them the crown. And for Seattle, that’s a pretty good place to be.
As the source put it, “This should be a lesson to everyone out there who rushed to say the Rams would crush everything in their sight this season.”
For the Seahawks, the bigger takeaway is simple: the division has started to wobble, and they may be the team best positioned to benefit, especially after adding Quenton Nelson to the mix.
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Jadarian Prices return from injured reserve gave the Seahawks backfield a fresh wrinkle on Monday night, and the latest injury report suggests he may be ready to factor into the game plan right away. Seattle listed Price as a full participant in practice, and coach Mike Macdonald said he could play in the upcoming game, a notable development for a group that has been managing its health as the week unfolds.
The bigger question now is what the backfield looks like around him. Zach Charbonnet, who had previously been a full participant, was limited this time and his status is less certain, while other key Seahawks names such as Charles Cross, Rashid Shaheed and Uchenna Nwosu were out of practice altogether. On the brighter side, Leonard Williams and Drake Thomas moved up to full participation, giving Seattle a little more stability elsewhere as it sorts through the final injury picture. [Read more 🡒]
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There was at least one encouraging sign in Leonard Williams, who returned to full practice after dealing with an Achilles injury, but the rest of the front still looks unsettled. Byron Murphy and Brandon Pili were limited or out with back injuries, Rashid Shaheed sat out practice, and rookie running back Jadarian Price was back in full participation after his stint on injured reserve, while linebacker Drake Thomas also got through a full session after an ankle issue. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Trade Deadline Plans May Hinge On One McVay Reality
As the trade deadline approaches, the Rams are weighing more than just outside help. Sean McVay said the team is hoping to get key injured players back within about a month, and he made it clear that any trade conversations will be shaped by how those recovery timelines unfold. For a division-race team, that kind of uncertainty can matter just as much as what is available on the market.
The ripple effect reaches Seattle, where Byron Murphy II has been drawing steady praise for the way he has adapted and impacted the defense this season. Coaches have highlighted his versatility, while teammates have already started talking about a long-term extension as the kind of move the Seahawks should consider. In a division where every roster decision gets measured against the next matchup, Murphys rise is becoming part of the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]