Seahawks Short-Handed in Secondary - Again - vs. Saints in Week 3
Likely down multiple starters at cornerback and safety for a second straight week, the Seattle Seahawks will have to lean heavily on their secondary depth when the New Orleans Saints come to town for a Week 3 battle at Lumen Field on Sunday.
Among four players receiving doubtful designations on Friday, the Seahawks face the prospects of being without cornerback Devon Witherspoon as well as safeties Julian Love and rookie Nick Emmanwori this weekend. In addition, running back Zach Charbonnet also is unlikely to suit up.
With two games in five days, including a Thursday Night Football matchup against Arizona, coach Mike Macdonald and his staff may be playing things cautiously with hopes of getting a few players back for the key divisional matchup next week.
Witherspoon, who worked out prior to last week’s game against the Steelers before being deactivated, has been hampered by a bruised knee suffered in coverage during the same play as teammate Josh Jobe intercepted Brock Purdy in Seattle’s season opener. After missing practice all of last week, he did practice in limited fashion on Friday, but still remains doubtful to return for this weekend.
As for Love, the veteran defender has been banged up in the first few weeks of the season, missing practice time last week with a groin issue and sitting out all three practices this week with a new hamstring injury. Emmanwori has also continued to sit as he recovers from a high ankle sprain suffered in his NFL debut that prevented him from playing in Pittsburgh.
Expected to be without Witherspoon, the Seahawks will once again roll with Riq Woolen and Jobe as their top two cornerbacks with veteran Derion Kendrick in the slot, where he picked off Aaron Rodgers in the end zone last weekend. At safety, D’Anthony Bell should be elevated from the practice squad for a second straight week and either he or Ty Okada will replace Love in the starting lineup next to Coby Bryant. The team also has Jerrick Reed II on the practice squad as another alternative for consideration.
In the backfield, Charbonnet apparently injured his knee while getting blasted several times by Pittsburgh’s defense last weekend and has not practiced at all this week. Without him available, George Holani will step up into the second running back role behind starter Ken Walker III, while Damien Martinez or Jacardia Wright will be available to promote from the practice squad as a game day elevation for additional backfield depth.
On the plus side, the Seahawks will have tackle Abraham Lucas (elbow), receiver Tory Horton (groin), Derick Hall (hip), Jobe (shoulder), and Ernest Jones (shoulder) all available against the Saints after each player missed practice time at some point during the week.
