Week 1 Inactives: Seahawks Light at WR, EDGE for Opener vs. 49ers

Seattle Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo celebrates after making a catch during a game against the Los Angeles Rams. Credit: Jake Bobo/Instagram

Despite ruling out outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu as well as receivers Jake Bobo and Dareke Young on Friday’s final injury report, the Seattle Seahawks will roll into the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers with minimal depth at either position.

Even with Nwosu sidelined, Seattle deactivated undrafted defensive end Jared Ivey and outside linebacker Connor O’Toole, choosing to go into Sunday’s Week 1 matchup with only three edge players active in Demarcus Lawrence, Boye Mafe, and Derick Hall. The team chose not to elevate Jamie Sheriff from the practice squad on Saturday, bypassing another opportunity to add depth for game day.

As for what the Seahawks may do to help expand the rotation off the edge, defensive tackle Leonard Williams played a fair number of snaps as a base defensive end last season, while Mike Morris has also played a similar role in limited action in the past. In training camp, nose tackle Quinton Bohanna also surprisingly worked a bit outside, though it’s unlikely he will be utilized in that role on Sunday.

At receiver, Seattle won’t have all hands on deck, or anywhere close, with Bobo and Young already ruled out a couple of days ago. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp will start, while rookie Tory Horton and veteran Cody White will serve as the two backups behind them. After choosing not to elevate a receiver from the practice squad, tight end Elijah Arroyo could see some snaps as a receiver out wide to help compensate for the lack of bodies at the position on Sunday.

In addition to Ivey and O’Toole being healthy scratches, the Seahawks also deactivated rookie tackle Mason Richman and rookie tight end Nick Kallerup. Neither of those moves should come as a surprise, as Richman currently sits as the fourth string tackle and Kallerup is the fifth tight end, and the team needed two extra spots for Bohanna and cornerback Shaquill Griffin to suit up as game day practice squad elevations.

Though he was listed as questionable with a calf injury, the 49ers will have star running back Christian McCaffrey in the lineup for the opener. In addition, receiver Juaun Jennings and guard Dominick Puni will also be in action, with no noteworthy starters being held out on the inactives list.