The Seattle Seahawks are heading into Super Bowl LX with momentum on their side and the oddsmakers giving them a slight edge over the New England Patriots. A big reason for that?
Their defense - a fast, aggressive, and fundamentally sound unit that’s been giving opposing offenses headaches all season long. But just days before the biggest game of the year, one of the key pieces in that defensive puzzle is suddenly in doubt.
Rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori, who’s been a quiet difference-maker all year, suffered a low-ankle sprain at the end of Wednesday’s practice. He left the field and didn’t return.
While head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the injury and classified it as a low sprain - typically less severe than a high-ankle version - Emmanwori was unable to practice at all on Thursday. That’s not the kind of trend you want to see heading into a game of this magnitude.
Now, Emmanwori himself isn’t lacking confidence. When asked about his status Wednesday night, the second-round pick out of South Carolina said, “I’ll be good to go.”
And if that turns out to be true, it would be a huge boost for Seattle’s secondary. But optimism aside, the reality is that his status remains very much up in the air.
Even though he’s technically listed as the backup strong safety behind Coby Bryant, Emmanwori has carved out a critical role as Seattle’s nickelback - a spot that’s as important as ever in today’s NFL. The Seahawks spent more time in nickel packages than almost any team in the league this season, often relying on five defensive backs to counter the spread-heavy offenses they faced week in and week out. Emmanwori’s versatility, instincts, and physicality made him a natural fit in that role, and he’s played like a veteran despite being in his first year.
If he can’t go, Macdonald and the Seahawks coaching staff will be forced to make some tough decisions. They could shift personnel and tweak their game plan, or they could lean on Ty Okada to step into that nickel role - a tall task against a Patriots offense that’s been finding its rhythm.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the matchup, New England got a bit of encouraging news. Veteran linebacker Harold Landry III, who sat out the AFC Championship Game with his own ankle issue, returned to practice on Thursday. That’s a significant development for a Patriots defense that thrives on pressure and relies on Landry’s edge presence to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
As it stands, both Emmanwori and Landry are officially listed as questionable for Super Bowl LX. That designation doesn’t give us much clarity, but it does set the stage for a game that could hinge on which team gets more from its banged-up stars.
In a matchup where every snap will count, the availability - and effectiveness - of these two defenders could quietly swing the balance.