After another uneven outing, the Seahawks found themselves on the wrong end of a 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, and the numbers told the story of a team still searching for rhythm. Seattle now gets nine days to reset before Week 7, when it runs into the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.
The offense again drew the most attention, starting with the shuffle up front. The rotation between Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens tilted sharply toward Haynes this time, a notable change after his snaps had been trending down in recent weeks.
Against Denver, Haynes played more than twice as many snaps as Stephens. Neither lineman had a clean night, though, with Haynes allowing five pressures and Stephens giving up three.
Whether the issue is communication, a new system, or just too many moving parts, this unit is nowhere near the level it showed in 2025.
Rashid Shaheed also had a busy, but imperfect, night. He logged just 45.9% of the offense’s snaps, his lowest share of the season, while still matching his season high with 39 snaps because Seattle’s offense was on the field for 85 plays.
There were flashes, too: Shaheed and Sam Darnold finally connected on a couple of deep balls. One 32-yard completion was wiped out by replay, and Shaheed was hurt while securing a 42-yard catch shortly after halftime.
That injury opened the door for Tory Horton to take on more of Shaheed’s workload, both on offense and special teams. Horton chipped in with a 13-yard punt return and hauled in a 13-yard catch on third-and-8.
He also found himself on the wrong end of several missed chances from Darnold, including one pass knocked down at the line, another that was simply too far off target, and the interception that Kirk Herbstreit somehow decided was all Horton’s fault. Horton could have done more on the play with a flatter route or by working back to the ball, but the throw itself was late and underthrown.
Tight end Elijah Arroyo never got a chance to settle in, leaving the game early with a shoulder injury after just five offensive snaps. Nick Kallerup handled Arroyo’s snaps after that.
Seattle’s defense had its own rough stretch before halftime, as Denver reached 14 points in the first half. Tyrice Knight was in the lineup in place of the injured Drake Thomas, and that may have played into some of the early damage. Still, the Seahawks settled in after the break and held Bo Nix and the Broncos in check the rest of the way.
The snap counts also showed how little certain offseason additions were involved. Trevon Diggs and Dante Fowler combined for only nine snaps, while Nehemiah Pritchett was limited to nine defensive snaps as the healthier starters in the secondary kept him on the sideline.
Special teams once again belonged to Brady Russell, who led the group with 24 snaps. Patrick O’Connell and Jimmy Ciarlo followed with 21 apiece, Eric Saubert played 20, and Mike Morris and Rodney Thomas finished next with 19 each.
There was also a first appearance for Irv Charles, who saw his first action for Seattle after arriving from the New York Jets in an offseason trade. He worked on both the return and coverage units on punts and kickoffs.
In Other News...
NFL Just Confirmed Seahawks Fans Had Every Right To Be Furious
Late in Seattles matchup with San Francisco, Jaxon Smith-Njigba took a hit from 49ers safety Malik Mustapha that never drew a flag on the field, even though it was later deemed a violation for hitting a defenseless player. The lack of a penalty at the time left Seahawks fans with plenty to gripe about, especially in a game where every late snap carried extra weight.
The NFLs review backed up that frustration, fining Mustapha $6,998 for the play and effectively confirming the missed call. No other players from the game were fined, but for Seattle supporters, the bigger point is hard to miss: the league looked at the same hit and came to the conclusion many in the building already had. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Backfield Picture Could Get More Interesting Than Fans Realize
Week 6 is bringing a little more uncertainty to the running back landscape than usual, and it is the kind of wrinkle Seahawks fans can keep an eye on even if the names involved are elsewhere. Quinshon Judkins, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, TreVeyon Henderson, Alvin Kamara and Rico Dowdle are all listed as questionable, with practice participation varying from player to player as teams sort through injuries and workload concerns heading into the weekend.
Jadarian Price adds another layer to the picture, even though he is still on injured reserve for now. His coach said a return could come as early as Week 8, which means the backfield conversation is only getting started in a league where availability can change the depth chart fast. For a Seattle team always watching the market and the ripple effects around it, these are the kinds of updates that can quietly shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Have A Pass Protection Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Through six games, the Seahawks offensive line has already become one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and the latest reminder came in a rough afternoon against Denver. Pro Football Focus charted 26 pressures allowed on quarterback Sam Darnold, who was under duress 27 times overall, a number that underscored just how often the pocket collapsed before plays could fully develop.
It was not just one spot breaking down, either. Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Jalen Sundell, Grey Zabel, Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens all had their share of pressures allowed, while George Holani has also had trouble in pass protection. For a team trying to build any kind of offensive rhythm, the issue is no longer isolated enough to shrug off, and it is starting to shape every conversation about how the offense can function going forward. [Read more 🡒]