The Seattle Seahawks just caught a break hours before kickoff: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams is officially inactive for Thursday Night Football at Lumen Field, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It’s a massive late-week twist for a game that’s essentially an NFC West pressure cooker. Seattle and Los Angeles entered the night tied atop the division at 11-3, with the winner strengthening its grip on the race.
Key details to know fast
- Adams: inactive after being listed doubtful with a hamstring issue (and also showing up with a knee designation earlier in the week).
- The Rams previously signaled it could go up to game time, but the inactives list ended it.
- Seattle has its own major absence: LT Charles Cross is inactive, creating its own “can the Seahawks protect?” storyline.
Rams’ WR decision changes the math for Seattle’s defense
From a Seahawks perspective, the headline isn’t just “one less star,” it’s how it changes the Rams’ menu.
Without Adams, Seattle can play the game more on its terms: rotate coverage help differently, be more aggressive with disguise, and force the Rams to win with secondary options rather than letting Matthew Stafford live on high-leverage, isolation throws to Adams in the red zone.
That matters because Adams hasn’t just been “a name.” he’s produced 60 catches, 789 yards, and 14 touchdowns this season. If that touchdown production isn’t on the field, the Rams’ scoring pathways narrow in the biggest moments.
Who benefits for the Rams and where the Seahawks should be on alert
The Rams still have plenty to stress a defense, starting with Puka Nacua. But the supporting cast becomes the story.
On the Rams’ own depth chart, the next wave at wide receiver includes Jordan Whittington, Tutu Atwell, Konata Mumpfield, and Xavier Smith.
For Seattle, that should change the “first-and-forever” plan: tackle cleaner, win on early downs, and make the Rams string together longer drives instead of hitting back-breaking chunk plays that Adams is famous for creating.
The Seahawks still have to survive their own injury punch
The catch: Seattle isn’t walking in clean either. Cross is out and Josh Jones is expected to start at left tackle, which could influence how quickly Seattle wants to get the ball out (and how much they can lean on longer-developing concepts).
Seattle also made roster moves ahead of the game, including activating WR Dareke Young from IR and elevating a couple practice-squad players for depth.
Seattle can’t treat this like a free pass, though. The Rams still have a quarterback who can carve you up if he gets comfortable, and losing one star often means an opponent gets more “spread-the-wealth” unpredictable. For the Seahawks, the formula should be simple: win first down, keep Stafford in obvious passing situations, and make the Rams’ secondary targets beat tight coverage over and over. Offensively, Seattle may need to be even more efficient early with protection issues, move the pocket, quick game, and avoid the back-breaking sack/fumble swing that flips TNF games fast.
Bottom line: Adams being inactive is real, tangible relief for Seattle’s defense—but the Seahawks still have to cash it in by protecting the football and not letting the Rams’ remaining playmakers turn the game into a track meet.
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