Seattle heads into Week 6 with fewer injury problems than Denver, and that alone changes the feel of this matchup.
The Seahawks are still dealing with their own absences at running back, where backups have already been carrying a heavy load for more than half the season. Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price will not be available again, so that issue doesn’t go away. But compared with the Broncos, Seattle comes out of the final injury report looking cleaner.
Denver will be without cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Talanoa Hufanga, while cornerback Riley Moss is questionable. That could open the door a bit for quarterback Sam Darnold, though the Broncos’ defense remains solid enough that nothing is guaranteed.
Seattle got a better break with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The wide receiver dealt with an ankle issue in Week 5 and had it taped during the game, but he is set to play against Denver.
That matters a lot, because Smith-Njigba accounts for 34 percent of Seattle’s passing targets. If he had been ruled out, the Seahawks’ offense would have been in much bigger trouble.
The Seahawks will also be short on defense. Linebackers Chazz Surratt and Drake Thomas were expected to sit.
Surratt has been out recently with a calf issue, and Seattle has felt his absence on special teams. Irv Charles is in line to handle that spot.
Thomas is a starter, and Tyrice Knight, who has starting experience, is expected to cover his role.
There is also some concern around Leonard Williams. The veteran defensive lineman injured his ankle in Week 4 and played through it in Week 5’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
He may not have made much of an impact in that game, but even at 75 percent, Williams still gives Seattle more than most players. He was listed as limited in practice this week, though those designations were only estimates because the team did not hold full practices on Monday or Tuesday.
Right guard remains a spot to watch as well. Rookie Beau Stephens and veteran Christian Haynes are still set to handle the job, rotating snaps while Anthony Bradford stays on injured reserve with a couple of injuries. With Denver bringing a strong defensive front, how Stephens and Haynes hold up could go a long way toward deciding whether Seattle leaves with a win.
In Other News...
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Christian Haynes has been one of the better recent stories on the offensive line, which is exactly why his name has surfaced as a possible trade candidate. Moving him could give Seattle a chance to address another need, but it would also create a hole up front unless the return is strong enough to justify it, leaving the Seahawks with a decision that is as much about protecting what they have as it is about adding something new. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have Real Hope For A Backfield Boost
The Seahawks may finally be closing in on a much-needed boost in the backfield, with Zach Charbonnet now trending toward a possible season debut in Week 7. The second-year running back has been sidelined since tearing his ACL late last season, and Seattle has gone the first six games without him as it has tried to sort through its rushing workload.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that Charbonnet has a legitimate chance to get back on the field next week, which would give the Seahawks another physical option at a position that has felt thin at times. Even before he was hurt, Charbonnet looked like a player Seattle wanted to feature, so his return would carry real weight for a team trying to stabilize its ground game heading into the heart of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Josh Jobe Problem They Can't Ignore
Josh Jobe entered this stretch with a real opportunity to settle into a larger role after signing a three-year deal with Seattle, but the latest outing against San Francisco did not help his case. He was targeted often enough to become a focal point, and the damage in receptions and yards was hard to miss for a Seahawks secondary still trying to find its best mix.
The cornerback room already looks different after the offseason shuffle and the addition of Trevon Diggs, which only raises the pressure on Jobe to hold his spot. If Seattle decides the competition needs another jolt, more changes are possible, and the next few decisions around the position will say plenty about how much faith the team really has in Jobe's long-term fit. [Read more 🡒]