Seahawks Face Injury Questions Ahead of Week 9 and Trade Deadline

WHO:

azcardinals.com - Arizona listed wide receiver Reggie Virgil (back) as a full participant.

Seahawks.com - Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon were 2023 first-round picks, became close friends and were described as major contributors to Seattle’s Super Bowl win.

Seahawks.com - Sam Darnold is Seattle’s starting quarterback; Drew Lock is expected to start against Arizona while Darnold is out.

Seahawks.com - Head coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold will miss the game because of a quad injury. The article also reports that Darnold fractured a rib early in the game against Chicago, kept playing, and later suffered the quad injury.

Seahawks.com - Macdonald said Leonard Williams, Charles Cross, Rashid Shaheed and Uchenna Nwosu “all have a chance to play” and that none had been ruled out.

Seahawks.com - General manager and president of football operations John Schneider could pursue another trade; the article cites his prior deadline additions Leonard Williams, Ernest Jones IV and Rashid Shaheed.

Seahawks.com - Quenton Nelson joined Seattle in a trade. The resulting lineup moved Grey Zabel to right guard; Macdonald said the team was committed to the adjustment and expected Zabel to improve.

Seahawks.com - Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 64 catches, 985 receiving yards and nine touchdowns through eight games.

azcardinals.com - Arizona’s report listed Jayden Williams (knee), Bam Knight (concussion), Jon Gaines II (ankle), Isaiah Adams (ankle), Walter Nolen III (ankle) and Michael Wilson among players with practice limitations or absences.

Heavy NFL - ESPN’s Bill Barnwell outlined two potential moves Seattle could make to help its offense after the Darnold injury news; the article does not identify the moves.

WHAT:

Seahawks.com - Drew Lock had served as Seattle’s emergency third quarterback behind Sam Darnold and Jalen Milroe for the previous two games because of his elbow injury.

Seahawks.com - Seattle’s Wednesday injury report listed Connor O’Toole (foot) and Brandon Pili (back) as nonparticipants; Nick Emmanwori (shoulder), Tory Horton (hand) and Tyrice Knight (thigh) were full participants.

Seahawks.com - Mike Macdonald said Seattle had played many games with an offensive-line player missing and cited Charles Cross missing a couple of games the previous season while discussing continuity.

Seahawks.com - Macdonald said Bobby Wagner had often lobbied for a black alternate uniform.

Seahawks.com - The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX.

Seahawks.com - Mike Macdonald said Quenton Nelson would be a “force multiplier” for Seattle’s offensive line, offense and team; he said the coaching staff was confident Anthony Bradford could play well and that Grey Zabel would continue improving at right guard.

Seahawks.com - The Seahawks’ uniform options are limited by league rules on the number of uniform combinations; adding a black alternate would require removing an existing option. The team also plans to add white throwbacks next season.

azcardinals.com - Arizona said Josh Fryar would make his first start at left tackle if Jayden Williams cannot play; a strong practice week could put Isaiah Adams in position to replace Hayden Conner at right guard.

Pro Football Network - NFL analyst Mike Florio questioned Seattle’s decision to disclose Sam Darnold’s injury and rule him out early before the Arizona game.

Seahawks.com - Seattle said Darnold’s injury was real, rejecting claims that it was fabricated to bench him. Lock also had an elbow injury that limited his practice work.

Seahawks.com - Smith-Njigba was on pace for 2,092 receiving yards, according to the article.

azcardinals.com - Arizona opened Isaiah Adams’s 21-day practice window; he had been on injured reserve after an ankle injury against the Giants.

azcardinals.com - Arizona’s Wednesday report listed Budda Baker, Jacoby Brissett, Hjalte Froholdt, Gaines, Knight, Seumalo, Josh Sweat and Jayden Williams as not practicing. Adams, Nolen and Wilson were limited; Reggie Virgil was full.

azcardinals.com - Seattle’s Wednesday report listed Charles Cross, Darnold, Connor O’Toole, Brandon Pili, Shaheed and Leonard Williams as not practicing. Anthony Bradford, Velus Jones, Lock, Nelson and Nwosu were limited; Nick Emmanwori, Tory Horton and Tyrice Knight were full.

WHERE:

Seahawks.com - Seattle is preparing to play the Arizona Cardinals.

azcardinals.com - Arizona’s injury report concerns its Week 9 matchup against Seattle.

WHEN:

Seahawks.com - Seattle’s game against Arizona is scheduled for Sunday.

Seahawks.com - The trade deadline is the following week; Schneider could make another addition before it.

WHY:

Seahawks.com - Seattle’s reporter said receiver production depends on factors including quarterback play, pass protection, defensive coverage and game situations; Smith-Njigba’s lowest-output game came when Seattle built an early lead against the Chargers.

Seahawks.com - Seattle’s decision to keep Zabel at right guard was intended to avoid disrupting his adjustment to the position and build continuity on the offensive line.

Seahawks.com - Seattle moved Zabel to right guard after acquiring Nelson and plans to maintain the lineup to help Zabel adjust.

azcardinals.com - Arizona could consider Adams at right guard if he practices well, with Gaines absent and Hayden Conner potentially being replaced.

HOW:

Seahawks.com - Macdonald said Darnold’s rib injury was disclosed to reporters after the coach obtained the quarterback’s permission.

azcardinals.com - Arizona said it would assess Nolen’s ankle day by day; head coach Mike LaFleur said the team wanted “slight improvements every single day.”

Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold will miss Sunday’s Arizona game with a quad injury. Drew Lock is expected to start, despite an elbow injury limiting practice. Arizona receiver Reggie Virgil practiced fully, while Isaiah Adams’s practice window opened.