Seahawks’ Leonard Williams Issues Menacing Warning to Rams After 21-19 Loss
Leonard Williams did not sound like a player ready to move on from the Seattle Seahawks’ 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. After the game at SoFi Stadium, the Pro Bowl defensive lineman made it clear he wants another shot at Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense, telling Gregg Bell of the News Tribune that he’s “looking forward to seeing them again.”
In locker room in Inglewood, Leonard Williams says after narrow loss at LA he’s really looking forward to him, #Seahawks seeing the Rams again—and perhaps 3rd time, in the playoffs.
@thenewstribune
In a video Bell posted from the locker room, Williams opened by praising the way Seattle battled in a game that came down to Jason Myers’ missed 61-yard field goal in the final seconds.
“I think overall our team just did a good job of fighting to the end,” Williams told Bell. “It obviously came down to the field goal at the end. I think we had great red zone defense… Overall we just kept attacking. I have to watch more film to see how it went.”
The Rams escaped with the win, but Williams’ tone suggested Seattle views this as far from a finished story in the NFC West race.
Leonard Williams Criticizes Run Defense, Says Seahawks ‘Didn’t Do Enough’
Williams didn’t sugarcoat why the Seahawks walked out of SoFi with a loss instead of a statement road win in the division. Asked if the defensive performance was good enough, the veteran immediately shot that down.
“No, because if it did we would have walked away with the win,” Williams said, via Bell. “Overall, we wanted to affect the quarterback more. I think to do that, we have to stop the run. I don’t think we did a good enough job stopping the run, especially in the first half.”
Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams ripped off multiple chunk gains and finished with more than 90 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Rams built an early lead.
Williams added that Seattle adjusted after halftime.
“I think we came out in the second half and did a better job of stopping the run,” Williams told Bell. “Once we start affecting Matt (Stafford) that will help us. We didn’t do a good enough job of doing that today.”
Even with Sam Darnold throwing four interceptions, the defense nearly bailed Seattle out by tightening in the red zone and forcing the Rams to work for all three of their touchdowns.
‘Looking Forward to Seeing Them Again’: Williams Points to Rams Rematch
For Williams, the focus quickly shifted from the disappointment of Sunday to a potential revenge opportunity later this season. The Seahawks and Rams are scheduled to meet again on December 18 at Lumen Field in a matchup that could again carry NFC West implications.
“I just know that I look forward to seeing them again,” Williams told Bell.
In the background of Bell’s video, another Seahawks defender could be heard backing Williams up with an emphatic, NSFW endorsement:
That off-camera hype underscored the mood in Seattle’s locker room, frustration over a missed opportunity, but also confidence that the Seahawks can flip the script when the Rams visit the Pacific Northwest.
With the loss dropping Seattle to 7-3 and pushing the Rams to 8-2 and first place in the NFC West, Williams’ comments read like an early warning that the Seahawks expect the rematch to be different.
What Williams’ Comments Mean for the Seahawks
Williams has been singled out as a defensive MVP-type presence for Seattle this season, and his public challenge to the front seven sends a clear message: if the Seahawks want to reclaim control of the NFC West, it starts with shutting down the Rams’ run game and getting Stafford on the ground.
The Seahawks will have little time to dwell on the loss with a road trip to the Tennessee Titans up next, but Williams has already circled another date: the Rams’ visit to Lumen Field. If Seattle’s defense plays to the standard he laid out with Bell, that second meeting could look and feel a lot different than Sunday’s narrow, painful defeat.
Mike Macdonald Sounds Alarm on Second Surgery Bombshell for 40-Sack Seahawks DT
Mike Macdonald delivered a significant postgame update on Jarran Reed’s status, saying the Seattle defensive tackle suffered a setback in his recovery from a wrist injury and will undergo a second operation. Macdonald, who repeatedly praised Reed’s toughness, added the team remains “hopeful” the veteran can return this season, he told reporters during a post-game press conference after the Seattle Seahawks improved to 7-2 with a 44-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Reed originally hurt his wrist going into the Week 7 game against Houston and had an operation during the bye, according to Macdonald. Despite the injury, Reed returned to the field and played in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders.
“This tells you how tough he is,” Macdonald said. “He’s an all-time tough, physical, mentally strong guy — all of the above.”
After Reed came back and played, Macdonald said the team believed the wrist was ready, but “we had a setback.”
Macdonald indicated the latest development means another procedure is necessary.
“Turns out he has to have another operation,” the coach said. “It’s a setback. Your heart goes out for him. Hopefully this will really stabilize it. First you’re concerned about him.”
Asked if Reed could be back this year, Macdonald responded: “That’s the thought.”
Jarran Reed had wrist surgery during the bye week, Mike Macdonald said. Played afterward but had a “setback” against the Commanders. They got it re-imaged and that revealed that J Reed needs surgery again.
The thought is that J Reed will be back this year.
Injury Timeline & What Macdonald Said
GettyJarran Reed will be out at least three more games as he undergoes another surgury on his injured wrist.
Macdonald outlined a clear sequence: Reed injured the wrist before the Houston matchup, underwent surgery during the team’s bye, returned to action, then aggravated the injury. The staff initially believed the wrist was “all right,” Macdonald said, but something occurred in-game that forced the club to re-evaluate. “It happened in the game, so we have to look at it again,” he said, describing the new operation as the next step intended to stabilize the area.
The team surprisingly put him on IR on November 8, less than 24 hours before the team took on the Arizona Cardinals, signaling the sudden change in status for injured lineman.
The coach’s public emphasis was on Reed’s resilience as much as the medical news. Calling the defensive lineman “all-time tough,” Macdonald noted Reed played through significant pain and remained engaged despite multiple hurdles. The combination of early surgery, a return to the lineup and a subsequent setback underscores both the player’s determination and the unpredictable nature of hand and wrist injuries for trench defenders.
What It Means for Seattle’s Defense
Reed anchors the interior as a run defender and pocket-push presence, and his absence alters how Seattle can build its fronts on early downs and in two-minute. While the team has rotated bodies inside throughout the season, Reed’s combination of experience and strength helps set edges for linebackers and create one-on-ones for edge rushers. Without him, expect more snaps for the next men up on the interior and potential tweaks in sub-package personnel to manufacture interior pressure.
Macdonald stopped short of providing a firm timetable. The phrasing — “hopefully,” “stabilize,” and “that’s the thought” — signals the club’s optimism is tempered by the need to see how Reed responds post-operation. The medical staff will reassess after surgery and determine the next steps. Until then, at the very least, he’s out three more weeks due to the rule around being placed on the IR. We’ll know more after Reed has the aforementioned procedure.
What’s Next for Reed
The immediate next step is surgery and stabilization, followed by evaluation. Macdonald emphasized player health first. Any return would depend on healing benchmarks, functional strength, pain tolerance and the ability to protect the wrist in game conditions. For a hand-heavy position like defensive tackle, those thresholds matter as much as imaging.
Even without Reed, the defense is humming – notably forcing two sack-fumble, scoop-and-scores against the Cardinals. While the Seahawks would prefer to have Reed out there, the defense is still delivering results.
