Seattle Seahawks fans got their first real look at the Week 1 injury picture, and the biggest name on it is Nick Emmanwori.
Seattle’s rookie defensive back is still working back from ankle surgery he had in July, and he showed up on the club’s initial injury report as limited. That’s the update to watch most closely as the Seahawks prepare to open the 2026 season against the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on Wednesday, September 9.
Emmanwori matters because of what he lets Mike Macdonald do on defense. He can move around the formation, line up in different spots, and make things harder for opposing offenses to diagnose before the snap. If he’s not available, or even if he’s not full-speed, Seattle loses some of that flexibility.
The Seahawks did not put Emmanwori on the physically unable to perform list when final roster cuts were made, which pointed toward a quicker return rather than a long absence. For now, though, he’s still on the injury report alongside several other players.
AJ Barner was listed with an oblique injury and was full on Monday. Anthony Bradford had a knee issue and was limited.
Tory Horton was limited with a hamstring injury, and Josh Jones was also limited because of a knee problem. Julian Neal was full with a quadricep injury, while Ty Okada did not practice because of a hamstring issue.
Emanuel Wilson, meanwhile, was full with a hamstring injury.
Seattle also added some insurance at safety on Saturday, signing veteran D’Anthony Bell to the practice squad. Bell spent most of last season with the Seahawks and was in camp this year, so he’s already familiar with Macdonald’s system. If Emmanwori can’t go or is restricted, Bell gives Seattle a known option.
The Seahawks’ injury list will continue to change as the week goes on, and the unusual Wednesday kickoff means the timeline is tighter than usual. The final report will come the day before the game.
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