Sam Darnold is sidelined with a glute injury, and while we’re all banking on our dominant defense to carry us against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the squad is already seriously shorthanded for the second game in a row. Now, it looks like things might get even tougher.
The Secondary’s Next Man Up Mission Just Got Real
The hits just keep coming to our secondary. Safety Ty Okada is officially OUT with a hamstring injury, and honestly, the concern level should be rising for all of us. He’s been out of practice for two straight weeks! That’s not a great sign, right? And then there’s Nick Emmanwori, who was already working his way back from offseason ankle surgery. This dude shows up on Wednesday’s report with a hip injury too? What gives? Given his value all over the field for us, it’s really hard to imagine the Seahawks rushing him back, especially with multiple injuries popping up like this.
The good news, if you can call it that, is that we’ve seen some guys step up. Rodney Thomas II got activated from the practice squad last week and he was HUGE in that 13-10 comeback win against the Patriots. Remember that momentum-altering interception in the fourth quarter? He tipped Drake Maye’s deep shot right into Nehemiah Pritchett’s hands! Plus, he racked up four tackles. You gotta expect him to fill in again. And if Emmanwori can’t go, AJ Finley, who just got signed to the active roster, could potentially see some snaps against the Cardinals. We need these guys to be ready, Emerald City!
O-Line Woes and the Battle Ahead
It’s not just the defense taking lumps, either. Our starting right guard, Anthony Bradford, is also questionable, and he’s navigating a double whammy himself. He was already dealing with a knee injury before a hip issue popped up on Thursday’s injury report. He was limited in practice on September 7th, got back to full capacity for two days, and even suited up against New England. But now, with two injuries and not practicing on Friday, it sure looks like he’s trending on the wrong side of questionable for Sunday. If he can’t go, Christian Haynes will be in line to step up. This O-line needs to hold strong for Sam if he’s back soon, but for now, it’s about making sure our dominant defense can still get the job done.
The Cardinals aren’t coming into Lumen Field completely healthy either. Their cornerback Garrett Williams is out with an Achilles injury, and they’ve got their own list of questionable players, including OG Isaac Seumalo (shoulder) and DT Roy Lopez (groin). But let’s be real, we’re focused on our guys and making sure we bring the fight.
So, buckle up, 12s. We’ll get the official inactive list at 11:55 AM P.T. on Sunday. This team is banged up, no doubt, but that’s where the next-man-up mentality comes into play. We need to see that grit and determination we know this squad has. It’s time to show the Cardinals what Seattle football is all about, even when we’re shorthanded. Let’s get loud for our 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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