The Seattle Seahawks are getting healthy in a hurry â and just in time for the second half of the season.
According to ESPNâs Brady Henderson, the Seahawks will have several key defensive players returning from injury following their bye week, including safety Julian Love, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and safety Nick Emmanwori.
âThe Seahawks will get Julian Love (four missed games) and Devon Witherspoon (five) back post-bye. Nick Emmanwori (three and most of a fourth) also missed time,â Henderson reported.  Â
Love has missed four games with a hamstring injury, while Witherspoon has been sidelined for five with a shoulder issue. Emmanwori, the teamâs promising rookie safety, missed three games and most of a fourth after suffering an early-season knee injury.
Despite the absences, Seattleâs defense has quietly been one of the leagueâs best. The Seahawks are allowing just 19.4 points per game â sixth-fewest in the NFL, and a shade better than division-leading San Francisco â even while playing most of the last month without three starters in the secondary.
Depth Players Stepped Up
Seattleâs defensive backfield has been held together by unsung contributors. Ty Okada, a third-year defensive back who made the 53-man roster as a special-teams standout, has drawn praise from coaches for his versatility and tackling in space. Defensive backs Josh Jobe and Coby Bryant have filled in admirably, as both recorded five solo tackles against the Texans, with Jobe knocking down a pair of passes.Â
The Seattle defensive front has also shown why the Seahawks are trending in an elite direction. DeMarcus Lawrence registered two tackles for losses and a sack against the Texans while linebackers Ernest Jones (game-high 11 tackles against Houston) and Uchenna Nwosu were active in many aspects of the defense.Â
Why It Matters
Getting Love and Witherspoon back changes the complexion of Seattleâs defense entirely. Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft, was one of the NFLâs most disruptive slot defenders in 2023, finishing with 16 pass breakups and 3 sacks, and had another strong season in 2024. Love, meanwhile, led the team in interceptions and forced fumbles in 2024 and brings critical communication on the back end.
The Seahawks (5-2, 2nd NFC West) will need both players as they prepare for a pivotal stretch that includes games against the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks will especially need its full defense with late-season matchups against the Colts, Rams again, and 49ers to close out the season.Â
Having a healthy secondary also allows Seattle to be more aggressive with blitz packages and tighter man-to-man coverage.
Whatâs Next
Seattle returns from its bye to face the Commanders in Week 9 a matchup that should serve as a test run for the unitâs restored lineup, depending if Jayden Daniels comes back from a hamstring injury With depth players gaining valuable experience during the injury stretch, the Seahawks could soon field one of the NFLâs deepest and most dynamic secondaries.
If the first half of the season proved Seattle could survive without its stars, the second half could show just how dominant it can be with them back.
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