Devon Witherspoon Overcomes Tough Week: "I Won't Let This Weaken My Spirit!"
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon faced one of the toughest weeks of his young career, as he not only had to deal with the pressures of playing at the highest level but also the unexpected challenges off the field. However, in a statement that captured his unshakeable resilience, Witherspoon assured his teammates, fans, and supporters that this was just a temporary setback and that his spirit would remain unbroken.
"It's been a tough week, but I know this is just a temporary challenge," Witherspoon said, acknowledging the hurdles he’s faced. "Thank you to my teammates and the fans for their unwavering support. I won’t let this weaken my spirit."
Witherspoon's honesty and determination have resonated with both his teammates and the broader Seahawks fanbase. The rookie cornerback, who has been a standout since joining the NFL, had been under scrutiny for his recent performance and some off-field issues. However, his ability to bounce back from adversity has always been one of his defining traits.
The challenges started early this week, with Witherspoon missing key practice sessions due to a knee injury that kept him off the field. While the injury wasn’t severe enough to rule him out for the upcoming game, it caused him to miss crucial time to prepare. On top of that, the NFL also handed down a fine for taunting during a previous game against the Arizona Cardinals, adding to the pressure he was already feeling.
Despite these setbacks, Witherspoon has maintained a positive outlook and continues to focus on his goal — to contribute to the Seahawks’ success. His statement reflects not just his personal resolve but also his leadership within the team. Teammates have rallied around him, and head coach Pete Carroll expressed confidence in his ability to shake off the distractions and return to his strong form.
"Devon’s a fighter, and I’ve seen him overcome adversity before," Carroll said in a recent interview. "This is a guy who knows what it takes to get back on track, and he will. We have full faith in him."
As the Seahawks prepare for their critical Week 5 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Witherspoon’s statement has brought a sense of calm and determination to the locker room. His leadership has inspired others to stay focused on the goal, despite any hurdles that might come their way.
Witherspoon’s determination is also reflected in his performance on the field. Even after facing setbacks, he has been one of the top cornerbacks for the Seahawks, consistently locking down receivers and contributing to the team's defense. His work ethic and attitude have made him a fan favorite, and his resilience is a key reason why the team believes in his potential.
The road to greatness is never smooth, and for Witherspoon, this week is just another chapter in his journey. With his head held high and his resolve stronger than ever, he’s ready to prove that no challenge can hold him back.
Chiefs Get Surprise Injury Before Week 5 MNF Game vs. Jaguars
Coming into the weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs had a relatively clean bill of health. The reigning AFC champions have just a couple of minor injury situations to monitor, or at least they thought, as Saturday’s practice arrived.
There’s a new development as the club heads south to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s a classic good news, bad news situation from head coach Andy Reid.
Andy Reid Drops News of Surprise Injury to Chiefs DT Omarr Norman-Lott
In his Saturday afternoon media availability, Reid revealed that defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott is nursing a shoulder injury. He sustained the ailment on Friday.
“The only one that didn’t practice today was Lott, Omarr,” Reid said. “He nicked up his shoulder yesterday. We’ll just see how he does here in the next couple of days.”
When asked whether it’s a serious injury, Reid erred on the side of caution but said the rookie should be fine in the grand scheme.
“Listen, I think he should be OK,” Reid said. “We’ll see.”
It remains to be seen whether this will impact Norman-Lott’s availability for Monday night’s game.
UPDATE: Per the Chiefs, Norman-Lott is questionable for Monday.
This marks the continuation of what’s been a slow start for Norman-Lott’s rookie season. The 63rd overall NFL Draft pick dealt with an ankle injury in August, limiting his availability and effectiveness during the preseason. He then got a sack in his NFL debut in Week 2.
In Weeks 2-4, Norman-Lott combined to play 55 defensive snaps. In those opportunities, he has 5 tackles (4 solo efforts and 1 for loss) and the aforementioned quarterback takedown. The former Tennessee standout owns a 50.2 Pro Football Focus overall grade, which ranks 132nd among 179 interior defensive linemen. His 62.3 pass rush grade, however, is 71st.
Assessing Kansas City’s Interior Defensive Line Options for Week 5 & Beyond
Norman-Lott is one of three Chiefs players worth monitoring ahead of Monday’s game. All signs point to defensive end Mike Danna returning from his quad injury in time for Week 5. Cornerback Kristian Fulton continues to make progress, although he was limited in practice on both Thursday and Friday.
In the event Norman-Lott misses time or is hindered by the shoulder injury, Kansas City will need its interior of the defensive front to step up. Through four games, the Jaguars rank second in both ESPN’s pass block win rate and run block win rate. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been pressured at the lowest clip in the sport. Jacksonville’s rushing attack, fueled by Travis Etienne, ranks seventh in EPA/play per Jefe’s Handiwork.
Look no further than the Chiefs‘ Week 4 win over the Baltimore Ravens to figure out their defensive tackle rotation. Leading the group, as expected, was All-Pro Chris Jones with 39 snaps played. Norman-Lott’s 17 snaps were good for second place, followed by veterans Jerry Tillery (16) and Derrick Nnadi (13). Tillery recorded a sack in the game, and his snaps per game have increased in each week Norman-Lott was active for.
At the defensive end spot, Charles Omenihu is beginning to heat up. If Danna indeed returns as expected, his inside-outside versatility goes hand-in-hand with Omenihu’s. George Karlaftis is the straw that stirs the drink for that position, and he’s enjoying a great start to the year.
The long game is always more important for the Chiefs. They’ll handle Norman-Lott’s seemingly minor injury accordingly.
