Camp Takeaways: Devon Witherspoon Focused on Football, Seahawks’ Defense Steals Show in Practice 15
Still without a new contract three weeks into training camp, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon isn’t sweating his long-term status with the franchise as he continues to take care of business between the lines.
Since camp opened, Witherspoon has been a full participant for Seattle, active in every practice while only having a couple of veteran rest days where he didn’t see much action during team drills. Unlike some players who would have chosen to hold out or “hold in” while still being in attendance, the All-Pro corner told reporters after Tuesday’s 15th practice that even without a new contract in tow just yet, he doesn’t believe in skipping out on practice time.
“I’m not worried about that right now,” Witherspoon said of his contract situation. “I’m focused on making plays and trying to get better day by day. We’ve got other stuff to focus on, with the goal of trying to win games, so that’s my focus right now.”
Entering his fourth NFL season, Witherspoon currently has two years left on his rookie deal after Seattle exercised his fifth-year option back in March. Under the terms of the remaining years on the contract, he carries a $10.3 million cap hit for the upcoming 2026 season and that hit balloons to $21 million next season with the option.
Nick Emmanwori Passes Physical, Seahawks Place Robbie Ouzts on Injured Reserve
Checking off the criteria for a mixed bag of news dropping at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Tuesday, the Seattle Seahawks received positive injury news for one of their biggest stars while also losing an offensive starter for the season.
As officially announced by the team via their website, second-year safety Nick Emmanwori passed his physical on Tuesday morning, clearing a major hurdle three weeks after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery. Unfortunately, while the Defensive Rookie of the Year runner up from a year ago looks poised to be ready for Week 1, the team won’t have fullback Robbie Ouzts available at all in 2026 after placing him on season-ending injured reserve.
In a corresponding move to fill Ouzts’ spot on the 53-man roster, Seattle signed linebacker Aaron Smith, who spent last season with the New York Jets on the practice squad after going undrafted out of South Carolina.
Mere days before training camp started, Emmanwori landed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which came as a surprise to many considering the defender participated in OTAs and mandatory minicamp in full. However, he still had some discomfort stemming from an ankle injury suffered during the week of the Super Bowl, leading to the decision made mutually by the team and player to do a clean up procedure before the season started.
Analysis: Observations From Seahawks’ 2026 Football Fan Fest
Taking the next step towards their upcoming regular season opener against the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks welcomed fans back to Lumen Field for their annual Football Fan Fest practice on Saturday.
As they have done each of the previous two years with coach Mike Macdonald at the helm, Seattle held a full-fledged padded practice rather than a glorified scrimmage, mixing in plenty of individual drills, competitive 1-on-1 reps, and special teams time before implementing situational 11-on-11 team sessions. Crediting the 12s for showing up even with the Mariners playing next door, Macdonald felt pleased with the work his team got done in what amounted to a roughly 100-minute practice.
I really appreciate the effort that everybody took to get out. Thank you,” Macdonald said. “Having a lot of enthusiasm, just really felt the love from the 12s today. So that was really great. And then in addition to that, I think we got some really good work in. It wasn't the longest practice of all time, but we got some good stuff in, and we'll be ready to go next Saturday.”
What stood out at Seattle’s annual Fan Fest?
Camp Takeaways: Running Backs to Take on Bigger Role in Seahawks’ Passing Game Under Brian Fleury
On the way to the second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks put up sizzling offensive numbers, including setting a new single season record for points scored and finishing eighth in the league in passing yards.
Leading the charge, Jaxon Smith-Njigba recorded 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Shaun Alexander as the second Seahawk to win Offensive Player of the Year honors. Away from the rising superstar, Sam Darnold had plenty of other capable weapons at his disposal, including Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, and standout tight end AJ Barner.
But for as much success as Seattle had attacking opponents through the air last season with former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak calling plays, the team managed to do so without relying much on running backs as receivers. Contrasting from Kyle Shanahan’s offense in San Francisco, the Seahawks finished 31st in targets (63) and 28th in catches (53) without a single touchdown reception from running backs in 2025, only utilizing former starter Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet sparingly in that fashion.
With a new play caller in Brian Fleury now at the wheel replacing the departed Kubiak, however, as Bob Dylan once wrote, the times they are a-changing in the Pacific Northwest.
Tory Horton Returns as Seahawks Begin Training Camp With Mostly Encouraging Health Updates
Approaching the midway point of the 2025 season, a wide open Offensive Rookie of the Year race had a surprise contender emerge from the Seattle Seahawks’ potent top-five scoring offense in the form of Tory Horton.
Falling into the fifth round after missing a significant chunk of his senior season at Colorado State with a knee/hamstring injury, Horton bounced back from the setback to quickly become one of Sam Darnold’s favorite targets on his new team. Though he only had caught 13 passes in nine games, five of those receptions put points on the scoreboard, including a pair of touchdowns in a 38-14 blowout win over the Commanders on Sunday Night Football in Week 9, tying him with superstar Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the team lead in receiving touchdowns.
Despite playing the entirety of the blowout win in Landover, Horton unexpectedly dealt with shin soreness in the days that followed the victory, first missing a handful of practices with hopes the injury wouldn’t sideline him for long. However, after missing a Week 10 win over Arizona, the shin showed no signs of improvement, leading to a stint on injured reserve that transitioned from being a projected four-week absence initially into the season-ending variety, keeping him out all the way through Seattle’s Super Bowl run and even into the offseason program this spring as he recovered from an injury far worse than anyone expected.
Seahawks Confident Nick Emmanwori Will Be Ready for Season Opener vs. Patriots
Despite undergoing surgery in the week leading up to report day for training camp, the Seattle Seahawks don’t have any concerns about safety Nick Emmanwori’s availability to kick off the season with a Super Bowl LX rematch against the New England Patriots.
According to sources connected with the player, Emmanwori underwent arthroscopic surgery during the past week to clean up his right ankle, which still had been providing some lingering discomfort for him even though he participated in OTAs and mandatory minicamp this spring. It’s unclear whether the procedure stems from a high ankle sprain that he suffered early in his rookie season or a separate lower ankle sprain suffered in practice during Super Bowl week back in February, but it could be a cumulative situation with both injuries happening on the same leg.
On Monday, Seattle placed Emmanwori on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, deactivating him while keeping him on the 90-man roster as he recovers. Given the timing of the surgery, he will likely miss at least the first few weeks of training camp and playing at all in the preseason seems improbable, but per team sources, the Seahawks expect he will be back at some point in August, allowing him to ramp up with plenty of time to work back into game shape before the season opener.
Nick Emmanwori Among 3 Seahawks Veterans Placed on PUP List
Closing in on training camp report day for veterans later this week, the Seattle Seahawks placed standout second-year safety Nick Emmanwori, running back Kenny McIntosh, and cornerback Tyrone Broden on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday.
Of the three names, Emmanwori’s inclusion stands out as the most obvious surprise with an undisclosed injury. The Defensive Rookie of the Year runner up from a year ago participated in Seattle’s offseason program in full, taking the field for all open OTA and minicamp practices without any evidence of injury, and looked healthy at a recent youth football camp that he hosted in Edmonds.
Before fans hit the panic button on Emmanwori’s status, however, NFL teams often use the PUP lists for procedural reasons with players who arrive at camp nursing minor injuries such as hamstring pulls or other soft tissue strains, providing a buffer in case the ailment requires a bit of time before the player can return to the field. Teams cannot place players on the PUP list after practices have started, leaving only season-ending injured reserve as an option. To avoid that possibility, it makes sense to err on the side of caution with hopes the player will pass his physical sooner rather than later and be activated.
Analysis: Debating Seahawks’ Rankings on ESPN Top 10 Lists
During the agonizing buffer period between the conclusion of offseason programs and the start of training camp during June and July, the annual arrival of NFL ranking season comes full force to help fill the gap for football fans.
Among the most notable rankings to be revealed each year, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler unleashes a top-10 list for 11 positional groups on offense and defense, using polls of select executives, coaches, and scouts to compile the rankings. The changes from year-to-year can be a fascinating case study in itself, seeing how opinions of certain players change over time with the rankings being predicated on the best players at each position in the present.
Interestingly, after winning Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks only had four players who landed top-10 spots at their respective positions. In contrast, nine other teams had five or more players who received such distinction, including the Lions with a league-high nine players who made the annual lists and the NFC West rival 49ers and Rams each having five apiece.
Looking at this year’s top-10 rankings provided courtesy of Fowler and ESPN, did those who placed votes get it right with the defending champions? Or did they miss the mark with several deserving players?
Film Breakdown: How Nick Emmanwori Allows Seahawks to Break the Rules
Over the past several decades, as offenses have evolved into more complex, pass-oriented attacks, NFL defenses have been in survival mode trying to adapt on the opposite side of the football.
Thanks to Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and others orchestrating record-setting aerial assaults, thus making the ground-and-pound run games of earlier eras obsolete, teams have undergone dramatic personnel shifts since the turn of the century. Once 250-plus pound heavy hitters, linebackers have continued to get lighter and faster in an effort to counter the proliferation of running backs and tight ends being deployed as pass catching weapons. Many of the big-bodied defensive ends who once dominated the sport have been fazed out in favor of speedier EDGE defenders who can pin their ears back and hunt quarterbacks.
Even with those changes, most defensive coordinators have to still mix and match personnel groupings over the course of a game. In obvious passing situations, an extra defensive back or two - or in some cases three - sub in for nickel, dime, and bandit sub-packages, sending a defensive lineman and/or a linebacker off the field to maximize coverage capabilities. In short yardage, however, teams still have to have the brutes to be able to rotate in against heavier offensive sets, substitutions that can be difficult to execute, especially against offenses that utilize no huddle tempo on a regular basis.
In other words, at least for most of the NFL, clear limitations remain for how often they can employ nickel and dime packages. Smart offenses can dictate the personnel they see through their own schematics and formation usage, giving them the upper hand.
But for the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, that’s no longer the case thanks to the arrival of Nick Emmanwori. The do-it-all hybrid slot safety unicorn who moonlights as an EDGE rusher as well as an inside linebacker while possessing 4.3 speed provides coach Mike Macdonald with the ultimate cheat code, stealing that long-held advantage away from opposing quarterbacks and the offense.
Analysis: Predicting Seahawks 2026 Defensive Breakout Candidates
Now less than a month from reporting date for training camp, the Seattle Seahawks will soon begin their Super Bowl title defense with sights on hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
But even with most of their roster kept intact after losing only five free agents from their title squad, for the Seahawks to have a shot at a rare Super Bowl repeat in coach Mike Macdonald’s third season at the helm, they will need several players to take a step forward with every opponent ready to give them their best shot each week. Defensively, Seattle has more holes to fill after the departures of Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Boye Mafe during the offseason, leaving more opportunities for other players to rise to the occasion and help fill those significant voids.
Looking towards the 2026 season, which defensive Seahawks stand out as prime candidates for a breakout campaign?
Seahawks Minicamp Takeaways: Nick Emmanwori Adding New Wrinkle, Zach Charbonnet Progresses
Launching the final phase of their offseason program, the Seattle Seahawks kicked off mandatory minicamp on Tuesday with the vast majority of players on the field, including the return of veterans Demarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams.
What stood out of from Day 1 of Seattle’s annual three-day minicamp? Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s session at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center:
1. Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba steering towards midseason form in the final week of the offseason program.
Crazily enough, Darnold and Smith-Njigba turned in a historic 2025 season combining to link up for over 1,700 yards and 10 touchdowns with limited practice time, as the two had never played together prior to hitting the field for the first time last April. But they developed outstanding chemistry seemingly overnight with the quarterback and receiver lighting it up throughout the offseason program and training camp before leading the charge for a top-five scoring offense on the way to a Super Bowl victory.
On the heels of that immense success, Smith-Njigba had some bad news for opponents on Tuesday, sending a message on the field and at the podium that the two stars expect to be even more in sync in their second season in tandem. After a somewhat quiet trio of OTA practices, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year jumped back into dominant form, starting with a nifty 20-yard catch on a quick out route where he managed to beat the quarter-quarter side of a Cover 6 look outside to make the catch before the outside cornerback could even blink, setting up a Jason Myers field goal in a two-minute drill situation.
No Sophomore Slump: Seahawks’ Nick Emmanwori Set to Make Superstar Leap
The Seattle Seahawks being allowed by the other 31 NFL teams to trade up in the second round to steal away Nick Emmanwori in the 2025 NFL Draft might be something every single one of those franchises regrets for years to come.
Emmanwori to Seattle reeks of teams pulling their hair out and saying, “We let that guy go there?!”
Yes, the Seahawks, with their defensive wizard of a head coach in Mike Macdonald, were able to hand-pick the queen of his proverbial chess board. His next Kyle Hamilton, his former star pupil in Baltimore.
Honestly, the Hamilton comparison might be underselling what Emmanwori could become. The Notre Dame-turned-Raven star has three Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pro bids to his name. Does anybody reading this think Emmanwori can’t exceed that in Seattle?
Growth of Sophomore Class Gives Seahawks Shot to Be Even Better in 2026
Like most Super Bowl winners, the Seattle Seahawks leaned heavily on their established stars on the way to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy last season. From quarterback Sam Darnold to defensive tackle Leonard Williams to linebacker Ernest Jones, the team had plenty of experienced veterans who stepped up with outstanding seasons to guide the team back to the top.
However, what made Seattle’s season truly a special one was the impressive contributions from young players in all three phases. Most notably, the 2025 rookie class played a massive role in taking the jump from a quality 10-win team that narrowly missed the playoffs one year earlier to winning the NFC West, earning the No. 1 seed, and capturing a Super Bowl title.
Continuing to be on a multi-year heater unearthing game-changing talent in the draft, Seahawks general manager John Schneider landed a Day 1 starting guard in Grey Zabel with the 18th overall pick, plugging the former North Dakota State standout into the lineup right away as a clear difference maker for a much-improved offensive line. Defensively, trading up to snag safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick proved to be a huge steal for the franchise, as his Swiss army knife traits turned an already great defense into a juggernaut.
Which Players Have Seahawks Drafted After Official 30 Pre-Draft Visits?
With the 2026 NFL Draft less than three weeks away in Pittsburgh, the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams are tying up loose ends and finishing official visits with a variety of prospects. These on-site meetings allow players to meet with coaches and personnel staff as well as undergo medical examinations and physicals.
So far, the Seahawks have been linked to 15 prospects for official 30 visits, including multiple potential first-round targets such as Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood and Missouri defensive end Zion Young.
In terms of relevance, the majority of players who fly out to Seattle for these pre-draft visits won't be drafted by the team, as only 26 of their 137 draft choices since 2011 have been used on players reported to make those visits, or just 18.9%. However, recent history suggests at least one of their slated four picks in this year’s draft will be a player who visited the team facility this spring, while several others could be signed as priority undrafted free agents or brought in for a tryout at rookie minicamp. These visits offer plenty of significance for general manager John Schneider and the front office, and that trend continued even after the arrival of Mike Macdonald as Pete Carroll’s successor.
Looking back at their past 15 drafts, with 2021 being excluded due to most visits being done virtually because of COVID protocols, which players who reportedly attended official “30” visits at the VMAC wound up being drafted or signing with the team?
Three-Year Outlook: Seahawks Face a Few Pressing Questions on Defense Beyond 2026
As the calendar flips to April and the 2026 NFL Draft rapidly approaches, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in the heat of the offseason, continuing to look into ways to improve their roster scanning the free agent market along with wrapping up draft evaluations while also exploring extensions to retain several of their top players.
While building the best roster for the upcoming season remains the top goal with eyes on defending their Super Bowl title, Seahawks general manager John Schneider also has to be cognizant of the future, making every decision in regard to free agency, extensions, and the draft with a multi-year window in mind.
Now less than a month away from the draft, how does Seattle’s defense look for both the present and the future?
Halftime Observations: Defenses Dominate as Seahawks Lead Patriots 9-0 in Super Bowl LX
With the Lombardi Trophy hanging in the balance, points will apparently be at a premium in Super Bowl LX as the Seattle Seahawks went into halftime nursing a slim 9-0 lead over the New England Patriots behind three Jason Myers field goals and a stingy, suffocating defensive effort.
What stood out from the first two quarters at Levis Stadium?
1. Ken Walker III runs like a Lamborghini on the Levis grass, but the Seahawks can’t get the car into the garage.
Playing in what could be his final game in a Seahawks uniform as free agency approaches next month, a motivated Walker revved up his engine and turned on the accelerators early and often, regularly leaving Patriots defenders in his wake after smooth, explosive cuts and filthy jump cut moves. On the first play from scrimmage, he bounced an inside zone run out wide to the perimeter, out-running multiple defenders towards the sideline before cutting upfield for a 10-yard gain to move the chains, helping start off a successful opening series that ended with Myers’ first field goal from 33 yards out.
Analysis: 7 Burning Questions to Determine if Seahawks Will Win or Lose Super Bowl LX
After nearly two weeks of relentless coverage and chatter that has left fans on both sides experiencing a bad case of cabin fever, the Seattle Seahawks will finally hit the field with a chance to avenge a previous Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots as the two teams meet at Levis Stadium in Sunday’s big game.
With both teams boasting top-three scoring offenses and physical, well-coached defenses, Sunday has all of the ingredients for a back-and-forth brawl on the biggest stage in professional sports. To earn their second Lombardi, the Seahawks will have to hope for the right answers to seven burning questions.
‘The Time is Now’: How Nick Emmanwori’s Versatility, Rapid Growth Powered Seahawks’ Super Bowl Run
Out of all the traits that an NFL player can bring to the table in terms of value, for superstars, starters, reserves, and journeymen alike, versatility may be the crown jewel.
While the Seahawks have their share of players on the roster who can play multiple positions or at least move around to different spots along the offensive or defensive line, rookie safety Nick Emmanwori has made the term versatile obsolete. Starring in coach Mike Macdonald’s defense, he has played a vital role in the franchise advancing to Super Bowl LX as a true jack of all trades.
Nick Emmanwori Exits Practice, Seahawks Seeking ‘Next Steps’ as Super Bowl LX Approaches
Just four days before taking the field for Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks could potentially be down one of their top playmakers on defense against the New England Patriots.
Hours after speaking with reporters during Wednesday’s media scrum, per PFWA pool reporter Kalyn Kahler, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori left midway through practice after injuring his ankle while attempting to defend a pass. The report indicates coaches and teammates came over to console the rookie defender as he walked off the field on his own and he did not return, receiving a limited designation on the practice report.
“He had an ankle today, we brought him in to look at it,” Macdonald told Kahler. “And we’ll kind of go from here and figure out what are the next steps?”
Analysis: Patriots’ Offense Presents Myriad of Challenges for Seahawks in Super Bowl LX
Led by a rising superstar under center, the Patriots are far from a one-man show on offense, including possessing an exciting running back tandem. What concerns do they present for Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks’ defense rolling into Super Bowl LX?
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
