Seahawks Inactives: Ty Okada Remains Sidelined, Rodney Thomas II to Start Again vs. Chargers

SEATTLE, Wash. - Despite returning to the practice field earlier in the week and being a full participant on Friday, the Seattle Seahawks will hold veteran safety Ty Okada out for a fourth straight game as he works his way back from a significant hamstring strain.

Okada has been sidelined since the week of practice leading up to Seattle’s season opener against New England, missing each of the previous three games before finally practicing on Thursday in limited fashion. Returning from a touchy soft tissue injury, the team clearly felt he needed a bit more time on the practice field before making his season debut, likely pegging him for a return next weekend against San Francisco in Week 5.

As he has for the first three weeks of the 2026 season, Rodney Thomas II will start for the Seahawks, looking to continue building on a strong start to his first season with the franchise. Along with six tackles, he has produced three pass breakups and allowed just five catches on eight targets for 22 yards and no touchdowns in coverage, performing at a high level so far in coach Mike Macdonald’s scheme.

Seattle will also benefit from the return of Pro Bowl safety Julian Love, who sat out last week’s road loss to Washington with a calf strain before returning to practice this week. Getting through Friday’s walkthrough work without any setbacks, he will be back in the starting lineup with sights on adding another interception to his total, as he picked off a pass in each of the team’s first two games to aid stifling defensive performances amid a 2-0 start.

For depth purposes behind Love, Thomas, and Nick Emmanwori, the Seahawks elevated second-year safety Maxen Hook from the practice squad and AJ Finley will also be suited up with both players expected to play substantial roles on special teams.

Dealing with a calf injury that popped up unexpectedly in Friday’s practice, Seattle won’t have the services of veteran linebacker Chazz Surratt, as the reliable special teams cog will miss his first game of the season. Tyrice Knight and Patrick O’Connell will serve as the backups in the middle of the defense behind starters Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas.

In the trenches, defensive tackle Brandon Pili will also be out as he continues to recover from a concussion/neck injury that knocked him out of last weekend’s loss to the Commanders. By choosing not to elevate rookie Deven Eastern off the practice squad, the Seahawks will be somewhat light in the middle, with Jarran Reed likely to see more work as a nose tackle than normal this week in his absence.

Capping off Seattle’s inactives, Jalen Milroe will be in uniform as an emergency third quarterback behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock. Cornerback Avery Smith, receiver Montorie Foster Jr., and tight end Nick Kallerup will be held out as healthy scratches due to numbers games at their respective positions, with Smith being held out in favor of veteran Trevon Diggs making his team debut coming up from the practice squad on Sunday.

On the other sideline, the Chargers will be without star safety Derwin James due to a hamstring injury. The former Florida State standout received a questionable designation on Friday’s final injury report, and his loss will be a major one for a defense that has been wildly inconsistent in the first three games of the season.

Among other noteworthy inactives for Los Angeles, guard Kayode Awosika remains out with a fibula injury, tight end Charlie Kolar won’t be available with a fractured left forearm, and receiver Brenen Thompson will be out with a quad issue. Veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson also remains sidelined by a hamstring injury.