NFL Announces Punishment for Seahawks $31 Million Star & RB Just Before Bucs Game
The NFL revealed punishment for multiple Seattle Seahawks players on the eve of the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Running back Ken Walker and cornerback Devon Witherspoon both received fines for taunting against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.
The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta reported that both players received $11,593 fines. Neither player received further discipline but will be on the hook for sending the league a check. While the two stars’ wallets are a little lighter, the good news is that suspensions were not levied.
It is a rough stretch for Witherspoon who is also recovering from a knee injury. The good news is Witherspoon is on a four-year, $31.8 million contract, so the fine will not hurt the defender too bad.
“Walker was penalized for his taunting, Witherspoon was not,” Condotta noted in an October 4, 2025, message on X. “Arizona had no fines.”
Here’s what you need to know as the Seahawks host the Buccaneers.
The Seahawks Are 3.5-Point Favorites vs. Buccaneers in NFL Odds
Seattle finds itself as a slight home favorite against Tampa Bay. The Seahawks are 3.5-point favorites versus the Buccaneers, per FanDuel.
Both teams enter the contest at 3-1, and the Buccaneers are coming off their first loss of the season. Tampa Bay’s comeback attempt versus Philadelphia failed as the Bucs lost 31-25 to the Eagles in Week 4.
The Seahawks Will Be Without Several Key Players vs. Bucs, Including Devon Witherspoon & DeMarcus Lawrence
Ahead of the contest, the Seahawks elevated safety Jerrick Reed II and defensive tackle Brandon Pili from the team’s practice squad. Seattle is hoping to benefit from an extended rest period following the team’s Thursday Night Football matchup against Arizona.
The Seahawks will be without several key players against the Buccaneers including Witherspoon, safety Julian Love, pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence and tackle Josh Jones.
Second-Round Pick Nick Emmanwori Is Expected to Play After Missing 3 Games
Second-round pick Nick Emmanwori is expected to suit up against the Bucs. The safety has missed the last three games with an ankle injury.
“I’m super excited, man,” Emmanwori noted on October 3, via Seahawks.com. “I got hurt like five plays into my debut, so I’m ready to get back out there.
“I’ve been doing a lot of grinding for rehab and PT and stuff, so I’m just excited to show face. …I think I deserve to get a restart, so this is officially my second debut.”
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Has Shined During Seattle’s Winning Streak
Quarterback Sam Darnold has recovered nicely since struggling during the team’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the season opener. Darnold has been a major factor as the Seahawks won the last three straight games.
I think it’s his decisiveness on how he’s playing,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said of Darnold, per Seahawks.com.
“He’s staying true to his reads and he’s rocking it when it’s there and when it’s not, he’s progressing and then checking it down or using his legs, and that’s what we’re asking him to do. And I think he’s doing it obviously at a really high level right now.”
Colts Get Big Update on WR Adonai Mitchell’s Role Before Raiders Game
Though segments of the fanbase is calling for his benching, the Indianapolis Colts aren’t willing to go quite that far with second-year WR Adonai Mitchell. On Friday, Colts head coach Shane Steichen reaffirmed his confidence in the young receiver. However, a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Saturday night may tell a different story.
Per Fowler, Mitchell will be active on Sunday, but he may play a limited role. Mitchell is usually Indy’s fourth receiver, but with WR Alec Pierce still dealing with a concussion suffered in Week 3 against the Titans, Mitchell was elevated to the WR3 role last week against the Rams. He had two critical mistakes that contributed to a Colts loss, including a holding penalty on a long run and, after making an incredible catch and run, fumbling the ball out of the back of the end zone.
As a result, Mitchell will take a back seat on Sunday to WR Ashton Dulin, a speedster for the Colts who primarily plays special teams. Per Fowler, Mitchell will still have a role, but it may be limited.
Mitchell is officially active for the Raiders game, with Pierce out with the concussion. Cornerback Kenny Moore II and running back Tyler Goodson are also inactive, while Riley Leonard was designated as the Colts’ third quarterback. Linebacker Buddy Johnson, offensive tackle Luke Tenuta and defensive tackle Eric Johnson II are all also inactive, according to the Colts.
WR Adonai Mitchell is the Best Separator on the Indianapolis Colts
Ronald Martinez/GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Adonai Mitchell #10 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
When the Colts drafted Mitchell last year, Steichen was buzzing about how easily he gained separation at the tops of his routes. In his final season in college at Texas, Mitchell had 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. When watching his tape, it was evident how smoothly he moved, and his 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine proved his top-end speed.
Mitchell joined a crowded Colts receiver room, and he’s been buried on the depth chart. That said, he’s produced when called upon, with 23 receptions for 312 yards as a rookie. So far this season, he has seven receptions for 137 yards in four games.
When Mitchell fumbled out of the end zone for a turnover last week against the Rams, he never seemed to recover mentally. He’d made an incredible catch down the sideline, beating sticky coverage with a clean grab and a spin away from two defenders, causing them to collide. As he raced down the sideline for his first NFL touchdown, he tried to hold them ball out in front of him as he crossed the goal line, but the ball slipped out of his hands.
After that moment, he was visibly upset with himself, and no matter how many times teammates and coaches came over to encourage him, he couldn’t snap out of it. During a timeout, he could be seen pacing in circles while the rest of the offense huddled up. Mitchell’s smaller role this week could simply be a tactic by the coaching staff to ease the pressure on him.
The Indianapolis Colts Have a Chance to Go on a Run
The Colts are 3-1 on the year, tied with the Jaguars at the top of the AFC South. Over the next few weeks, they play the Raiders, Cardinals, Chargers, Titans, Steelers, and Falcons — all winnable games. Indianapolis will be favored in most of those, as well.
With one of the most efficient offenses in football and an improving defense, the Colts are set for a surge in the standings in the coming weeks, and it could lead to a solid grasp on the division.
