The Seattle Seahawks quietly made a brutal roster move on rookie Tory Horton, who scored six touchdowns this season, including two touchdowns in their last win over the Washington Commanders, placing the 2025 fifth-round pick on injured reserve before their Week 12 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. The decision sidelines one of Seattleâs most electric young playmakers for at least four games.
The Seahawks also elevated linebackers Patrick OâConnell and Jamie Sheriff from the practice squad, trying to patch a suddenly thin linebacker group hit by multiple injuries.
Seahawks Make Gut-Punch Call on Star of Commanders Win
Horton, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, had become a breakout weapon for the Seahawks before suffering a shin injury that has already kept him out of the past two games. In his most recent appearance, Seattleâs Week 9 win over the Commanders, Horton exploded for two receiving touchdowns, turning the game into his personal highlight reel.
That performance helped cement him as one of the most exciting rookies on the roster, a big-play threat whenever he was on the field or back deep on special teams. Instead of a short-term, week-to-week wait, the Seahawks have now locked Horton into a longer absence by putting him on injured reserve.
The IR move means Horton must miss at least four games before heâs even eligible to return. For a team that just watched him score three total touchdowns this season itâs a gut-punch development, and the timing â right before a road trip to Tennessee â only adds to the sting.
What the Tory Horton IR Move Means for the Seahawks
Losing Horton strips the Seahawks of an explosive, home-run option in two phases of the game.
On offense, the rookie had already shown he could be a red-zone threat and a vertical weapon who stressed defenses even when he wasnât the primary read. His knack for finishing drives with touchdowns as a rookie made him one of the more intriguing pieces in the passing game.
On special teams, the hit might be just as big. Hortonâs 95-yard punt return touchdown was one of Seattleâs signature moments this season, and his presence alone forced opponents to rethink their punt strategy. With Horton out, the Seahawks will have to turn to another option and hope they can maintain at least some of that game-flipping potential.
The move also ramps up the pressure on the rest of Seattleâs skill-position group. With one of their most dynamic rookies unavailable for at least the next month, the margin for error shrinks as the Seahawks try to stack wins in the middle of the season.
Inside the Seahawksâ Linebacker Shuffle Before Titans Game
The Horton decision came on the same day the Seahawks tried to fortify a banged-up linebacker room. Seattle elevated Patrick OâConnell and Jamie Sheriff from the practice squad, a clear sign of concern about the teamâs health at off-ball linebacker.
Starting middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV is questionable with a knee injury and did not practice on Friday. He first injured the knee in Seattleâs Week 9 win over the Commanders, missed the following game, then returned to play against the Los Angeles Rams last weekend.
The Seahawks will already be without linebacker Tyrice Knight, who was ruled out after suffering a concussion in last weekâs game. If Jones canât go against the Titans, Seattle would be down two of its top three off-ball linebackers and would need to lean heavily on Drake Thomas.
Behind that group, Chazz Surratt is the only other off-ball linebacker on the 53-man roster. Surratt has been one of Seattleâs core special-teamers, seeing limited defensive work this season, with seven defensive snaps recorded against the Commanders in Week 9. He does bring starting experience after starting five games for the New York Jets last season.
OâConnell, an undrafted free agent out of Montana in 2023, has appeared in eight games over the past three seasons, including Seattleâs past two. Sheriff joined the Seahawks last year as an undrafted free agent out of South Alabama, initially flashing as an outside linebacker and edge rusher in the preseason before transitioning to off-ball linebacker.
Between Hortonâs IR stint and the linebacker injuries, the Seahawks head into Week 12 dealing with major hits on both sides of the ball â and a brutal surprise for the rookie who just delivered a three-touchdown showcase.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Seahawks Drop Brutal News on 6-Touchdown Rookie Before Titans Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.