The Seahawks may have another offensive line shuffle on their hands heading into Week 9.
Guard Quenton Nelson was downgraded on Thursday’s injury report because of a knee issue, a setback after he had been limited in Wednesday’s practice. He did not practice the next day, putting his status in doubt for Seattle’s NFC West matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle’s Thursday injury list was a crowded one. Nine players were out of practice, including six starters: quarterback Sam Darnold, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, left tackle Charles Cross, Nelson, defensive tackle Leonard Williams and linebacker Derick Hall.
Edge rushers Uchenna Nwosu and Connor O’Toole, along with nose tackle Brandon Pili, also sat out. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV and quarterback Drew Lock were limited, while there was at least one positive note: right guard Anthony Bradford moved from limited on Wednesday to full participation on Thursday.
If Nelson is unable to go Sunday, Bradford could slide back to his usual spot on the right side, with rookie Grey Zabel returning to left guard. Zabel had shifted over after Seattle acquired Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts on October 27.
That move was tested in Monday night’s 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Zabel gave up one pressure that led to a sack by Jeffery Simmons, while Nelson allowed just one hurry over 39 pass-blocking snaps. Nelson also was flagged for a false start.
The Seahawks are still looking for answers on offense, especially on the ground. Through eight games, they’ve averaged 3.9 yards per rushing attempt, which ranks 24th in the NFL. Their minus-50.33 expected points added on rushing plays is the worst in the league.
Seattle heads into the Week 9 game at 4-4, and the standings could tighten even more depending on what happens elsewhere. If the Los Angeles Rams beat the Washington Commanders, the loser of Seahawks-Cardinals could fall to the bottom of the division.
In Other News...
Seahawks Just Sent A Clear Message About Their QB Depth
With Sam Darnold and Drew Lock both dealing with injuries, the Seahawks moved quickly to shore up the quarterback room by signing Adrian Martinez to the practice squad. Martinez had recently been with the San Francisco 49ers and also built momentum with his play in the UFL, giving Seattle another arm on hand as it tries to keep its depth chart intact through a tricky stretch.
Seattle also re-signed Jamie Sheriff to the practice squad while making room by releasing wide receiver Malick Meiga and linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo. The roster shuffle underscores how much the Seahawks are trying to protect themselves at quarterback, especially with Lock working back from an elbow injury and the team needing a reliable fallback if the situation gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face One Huge Deadline Call After Quenton Nelson Move
The Seahawks have already made one bold move to reshape their offense by landing guard Quenton Nelson, and the ripple effect has been immediate. With the interior of the line suddenly upgraded, attention has shifted to the backfield, where Seattle is reportedly among the teams exploring a trade for Colts running back Jonathan Taylor to give the rushing attack a much-needed boost.
Taylors production has again made him one of the most intriguing names on the market, with 587 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through seven games this season. Indianapolis is said to be open to offers, and Seattles interest fits the moment: after investing in protection up front, the next question is whether the Seahawks are ready to pay the price to pair that line with a proven difference-maker in the run game. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Could Get Jaxon Smith-Njigba Help From An Unlikely Rival Source
Brandon Aiyuk is expected to report to the San Francisco 49ers practice soon after spending time on the reserve/left squad list, and his status now hangs over the rest of the NFC West. The 49ers still have a few paths they could take with the veteran receiver, including keeping him, trading him, or moving on entirely, with a release viewed as the likeliest outcome.
If that door opens, the Seahawks could find themselves in an unusual spot: eyeing help for Jaxon Smith-Njigba from a division rival. Seattle has been looking to strengthen its wide receiver group, and a player of Aiyuks caliber becoming available would give the team a chance to explore a move that would have seemed far-fetched not long ago. [Read more 🡒]