Injuries change math for Seattle Seahawks as NFL trade deadline approaches
When it rains it pours. That's especially tue in Seattle, where the Seahawks are better than the vast majority of analysts expected coming into this season. They might even be a Super Bowl contender at full strength. However, a recent slew of injuries on defense means they're far from that.
Seattle started the season without starting nose tackle Johnathan Hankins, who remains on the NFI list. Rookie Ryle Mills is there with him, punching a significant hole in the interior defensive line rotation. This week's injury report shows the devastation has now reached all three levels of the Seahawks' defense, though.
At Wednesday's practice there were five starters listed as non-participants, two more were limited and a critical backup was also sitting out. Even for a defense this good, that's way too much to overcome.
So, the math has changed for the Seahawks when it comes to potential personnel moves. With just three weeks to go before the NFL trade deadline, Kevin Patra at NFL.com believes defensive depth is now this team's greatest roster need.
"The injuries are mounting for Mike Macdonald's defense. On Sunday, the Seahawks were without defensive end, safetyand cornerback. Then they lost(oblique) and Riq Woolen (concussion). Going down three starters in the secondary highlighted Seattle's depth concerns moving forward. Few teams can withstand such attrition."
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Something still needs to be done about Anthony Bradford and his borderline-comical issues in pass protection. However, Patra has it right that the situation on defense is now the No. 1 priority for this team.
Unfortunately, there's not a hell of a lot that general manager John Schneider and his staff can do about it. They might be able to pull off a big trade for a defense difference-maker. They might even be able to add two of them before the deadline.
However, there's little to zero chance that the Seahawks will be able to replace five starters on defense - especially when three of them are on the back end.
Practically every NFL team has depth problems at cornerback - and Seattle is more blessed than most to have Derion Kendrick and Josh Jobe. Odds are they're not going to find teams that are willing to part with DB depth, unless they're in full firesale mode - and the teams that are won't have cornerbacks and safeties that you'd want on your roster, anyway.
The best-case scenario is that Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and AJ Barner can carry this team for a few weeks until the defense is healthier. If they can't, then a playoff run is going to be a long shot.
Deebo Samuel’s First Play as a Commander Gets Fans Buzzing Ahead of New Season
This offseason, the Washington Commanders were looking to build off their 2024 NFC Championship run with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and first-year head coach Dan Quinn.
While the success they saw in 2024 should be celebrated, the franchise is looking for more. And with that, they went all-in this offseason by adding talent on both sides of the ball. One of those additions is wide receiver Deebo Samuel, whom the Commanders traded for.
Samuel hit the ground running once he arrived in Washington, and got off to a hot start in his first game action as a Commander in Monday night's preseason game against the Bengals. Samuel got his first play from scrimmage with starters playing, and he immediately made an explosive play on a jet sweep that went for nearly 20 yards and had the fans rocking.
Answering the Biggest Question
Samuel's jet sweep is the only action he received on the night, as Quinn pulled his starters relatively early in the matchup that they would go on to lose 31-17.
Preseason exhibition games don't have any meaning when it comes to wins and losses, but it is a chance to fine-tune things ahead of the start of the regular season.
The starters looked to be in mid-season form on their lone drive of the game, and it seems as though Samuel will have a solid featured role within the offense based on what we saw Monday night.
The biggest question mark surrounding Samuel once he was traded for was whether or not offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury would use him similarly to when he was in San Francisco with the 49ers.
Monday's opening play seems to have answered that question for us. Samuel is a gadget player, as he can be utilized in several ways to gain an advantage over the defense. While he will still get looks like he did in San Fran, I wouldn't be shocked to see his role as a more traditional wideout grow this season alongside star wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
