The news out of Lumen Field ahead of the Week 7 clash against the Kansas City Chiefs is a punch to the gut: second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo is done for the 2026 season, placed on injured reserve after sustaining a shoulder injury that requires surgery. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that Arroyo’s season-ending surgery is happening, and it’s a massive blow for the young tight end and the team. Not all the news was bad, though, Zach Charbonnet got activated from the PUP list, which is awesome, but the Arroyo situation definitely stings.
Another Year, Another Injury for Arroyo
Honestly, the writing was on the wall for Arroyo coming out of last week’s game against the Denver Broncos. He hurt his shoulder trying to recover Rashid Shaheed’s fumble, and it just didn’t sound positive at all. An injured reserve stint was expected, but for his season to be completely over? That’s brutal for a guy who had an “electric” training camp in 2026. We were all hyped up, thinking he was about to make that big sophomore jump, remember? But the regular season just didn’t pan out. He barely saw targets, ending his 2026 campaign with just one catch for 17 yards and zero touchdowns. It’s a tough break, especially for a player who, coming out of Miami, was heralded for his pass-catching ability. But let’s be real, his draft stock slipped to 50th overall for a reason: questions about his blocking and, yeah, that injury history, including an ACL tear. This isn’t his first rodeo with injuries either. He missed the back end of the 2025 regular season after hurting his knee in Week 14. You just hate to see it.
The TE Room: Blocking Up Front, But Where’s the Catch?
So, where does this leave our Seahawks tight end room? A little thin on proven pass-catching, that’s where. We’ve got AJ Barner, Eric Saubert, and Nick Kallerup on the 53-man roster, and Josiah Deguara recently joined the practice squad. Saubert and Kallerup are known for their blocking prowess, which is crucial, don’t get me wrong. But when you look at the receiving side, Arroyo was supposed to be that spark. With him out, and those guys focused more on blocking, Seattle could absolutely add a bigger pass catcher to the active roster. We need that dynamic threat, especially with Charbonnet back and ready to roll.
The Hawks need to figure this out fast as we gear up to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. It’s time for the front office to make a move because finding that missing pass-catching piece could be crucial for our offense going forward this season. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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