The Seattle Seahawks didn’t leave Denver with much to feel good about after an ugly loss to the Broncos, but a few players still found ways to stand out in all the mess.
Start with Nick Emmanwori, who keeps expanding what he can do on the defensive side. He was a Swiss Army knife last season, and now he’s becoming a real problem as a pass rusher too.
Late in the game, he blew up Bo Nix on a third-down sack that gave Seattle the ball back in crunch time. Emmanwori finished with five tackles, two pressures, one quarterback hit, and one sack.
He bounced around everywhere again, lining up at linebacker, safety, and edge.
Ernest Jones IV also kept his edge even in a game that spiraled. He tried to block Will Lutz’s game-winning field goal in overtime and drew a penalty for it, but the effort matched the way he played all night.
Jones posted a team-high nine tackles, including one for a loss, along with two pressures and six run stops. He also notched a sack for the third straight game.
Then there’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who keeps putting together stat lines that feel almost unfair. Seattle’s offense leaned on him again, and he responded with 12 catches on 16 targets for 134 yards.
When the Seahawks needed a conversion or a spark, he kept coming through. Even against double teams, he was carrying the load, and Seattle still has to find him a true running mate.
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 🡒]