The Seahawks are reaching into the practice squad for help in the secondary as they get ready to open the season against the New England Patriots on Wednesday evening.
Seattle is set to defend its Super Bowl crown against the same team it beat in February to win it, but the roster looks different this time around. Safety Coby Bryant left for the Chicago Bears in the offseason, and cornerback Riq Woolen moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles. The team had hoped second-rounder Bud Clark and third-rounder Julian Neal from the 2026 NFL Draft would help absorb some of those lost snaps, but Clark is headed to injured reserve for the year and Neal was limited enough by injuries in training camp that he is not expected to have a major role early on.
That shortage became even more pressing when Ty Okada was ruled out after not practicing this week. With the secondary suddenly stretched thin, Seattle moved to add depth on the back end of the defense.
A.J. Finley is now on the active roster after being with the Seahawks since Mike Macdonald arrived, following his previous two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. The team also elevated Rodney Thomas and Velus Jones from the practice squad.
Thomas, a veteran who signed as a free agent in the spring, spent his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Jones, meanwhile, appears set to handle the special teams role he filled for Seattle down the stretch in 2025.
In Other News...
Seahawks Just Sent Their Strongest Signal Yet About Melbourne
The Seahawks are leaning harder into their push in Australia and New Zealand, announcing a strategic partnership with Collingwood that ties the NFL club to one of the biggest names in Australian football. It is part of Seattles marketing rights under the NFL Global Markets program, and it gives the team a more visible platform in a region where it has been looking to build real traction rather than just occasional awareness.
Melbourne will be the first major stage for that effort, with the two clubs set to co-host a kids AFL and NFL crossover flag football clinic. For Seattle, the move is less about a single event than about showing it is serious about planting roots abroad, using a local partner to connect with fans who may already know the sport through a different lens. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Secondary Suddenly Faces A Week 1 Problem
A thin-looking Seahawks secondary got thinner this week when Ty Okada was ruled out for the upcoming game because of a hamstring injury. Seattle also listed Nick Emmanwori as questionable, leaving the safety group in a shaky spot heading into a matchup where depth could matter quickly. Tory Horton is also questionable, but the bigger concern for Seattle is how it will patch together the back end if the injury picture does not improve before kickoff.
The roster math becomes even more important because the Seahawks may need to elevate safeties from the practice squad to cover the gaps. Across the field, New England has already ruled out running back TreVeyon Henderson and backup center Ben Brown, while defensive tackle Christian Barmore is expected to play, so both teams are still sorting out their Week 1 availability. For Seattle, the question now is not just who is healthy enough to suit up, but whether the secondary can survive the day if the list stays this short. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Open With A Rematch That Feels Different This Time
A season opener against New England already carries some extra weight for Seattle because it comes as a rematch of the previous years Super Bowl, and the game now has even more intrigue after the Patriots locked up Christian Gonzalez on a four-year, $135 million extension. The deal made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history and adds another layer to a matchup that figures to be watched closely in both cities, especially with the Seahawks and Patriots each trying to show how much they have changed since that championship meeting.
For Seattle, the bigger picture is not just the logo on the other sideline but the shifting cast around it. New Englands offensive line and receiving corps have both been upgraded, which gives the Patriots a better chance to stress a Seahawks defense that will have to answer some different problems this time around. However it plays out, it is the kind of opener that can tell a lot about where Seattle stands right away, and it sets up a meeting that feels less like a replay than a test of how far both teams have come. [Read more 🡒]