Reinforcements Coming as Seahawks Hit Road to Face Cardinals on Thursday Night Football
Set to fly down to Glendale for a crucial NFC West matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football, the Seattle Seahawks will be much closer to full strength in the secondary to square off against Kyler Murray and his arsenal of receivers.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who sat out each of the past two games with a bruised knee, did not receive an injury designation on Wednesday’s final injury report and will be back in pads for the Seahawks. In addition, safety Julian Love will return after missing Sunday’s 44-13 win over the Saints with a hamstring injury, ensuring coach Mike Macdonald’s defense will have nearly all hands on deck in the secondary for Thursday.
The Seahawks have weathered the storm with Witherspoon, Love, and Emmanwori each missing at least one game so far, as cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Derion Kendrick as well as safeties Ty Okada and D’Anthony Bell have picked up the slack and then some in their absences. Jobe and Kendrick have combined to intercept three passes in the first three games, while Okada racked up nine tackles and a partial sack in his first career start on Sunday and Bell blocked a punt that led to a Ken Walker III touchdown against the Saints.
But against a Cardinals offense headlined by second-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and standout tight end Trey McBride, Macdonald will be happy to have two of his best players back in the lineup to counter in a crucial divisional road game. And if either player is on a pitch count, the coaching staff should have confidence in being able to rotate Kendrick and Okada/Bell in as needed.
While Witherspoon and Love will return to play on a short week, however, rookie safety Nick Emmanwori appears to still be at least a week away as he recovers from a high ankle sprain with Seattle listing him as doubtful to suit up in Arizona. The second round pick out of South Carolina has been sidelined since suffering the injury on the first defensive possession in the season opener versus San Francisco.
Away from Emmanwori likely to miss a third straight game, the Seahawks listed guard Anthony Bradford (back), running back Zach Charbonnet (toe), and outside linebacker Boye Mafe (toe) as questionable to play on Thursday night. Mafe and Charbonnet were listed as full participants in Wednesday’s practice, while Bradford was limited, which may be telling in regard to who ends up being available or not.
As for not-so-ideal injury news, rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts (ankle) landed on injured reserve on Wednesday, meaning he will have to miss at least the next four games and Brady Russell will replace him on offense. As insurance with Emmanwori still out, Bell signed to the 53-man roster to take the vacant roster spot. Reserve tackle Josh Jones (ankle) will also not play after being ruled out and rookie Mason Richman should be active for the first time in his NFL career to serve as the third bookend behind starters Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas.
Heading into Thursday, the Cardinals have several of their own injury concerns to deal with. Rookie cornerback Will Johnson has been nursing a groin injury and received a doubtful designation, likely meaning he will miss a second straight game, while tackles Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and Kelvin Beachum (knee) each are listed as questionable. Veteran receiver Zay Jones won’t be available due to a concussion suffered in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers.
