Head coach Mike Macdonald made it clear this week that Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen has not been benched, even as the team leans into a three-man rotation at outside corner. Instead, Macdonald praised the former Pro Bowl defender for how he has responded to the shakeup and the way he has “stacked” strong games in recent weeks.
Woolen, a 2022 Pro Bowler and co-leader in interceptions as a rookie, has seen his role evolve as the Seahawks have mixed in Josh Jobe and leaned on Coby Bryant’s versatility in the secondary, while obviously being led by Devon Witherspoon. The changes raised understandable questions about Woolen’s status, but Macdonald pushed back on the idea that the young corner is being phased out.
Mike Macdonald Praises Riq Woolen’s Response
Asked what changed for Woolen, Macdonald focused on mindset and daily approach more than depth-chart drama. He pointed to Woolen’s decision to bring consistent intent to meetings and practice, saying the corner has “done it every day and had the attitude that he’s had,” and called himself “really proud” of how Woolen has handled the season.
Macdonald noted that Woolen’s practice habits have shown up on Sundays. The corner was part of a dominant defensive effort in Seattle’s 26-0 shutout of the Minnesota Vikings, a game in which the Seahawks forced five turnovers and Woolen added an interception as part of a swarming secondary.
The head coach framed Woolen’s recent play as the result of preparation finally meeting opportunity. The message from Macdonald: this is what happens when a talented corner keeps grinding through the rough patches instead of sulking about snaps.
How the Seahawks Are Handling the Cornerback Rotation
Macdonald also pulled back the curtain on how the Seahawks are managing snaps at outside corner. Between Woolen, Jobe and Bryant, Seattle has three players the staff would love to have on the field at all times, but only two starting spots to work with.
“I wish we could play with 12 guys and we’d just play all three all the time, but we just can’t,” Macdonald said, explaining that the rotation is planned but can “deviate” as the game unfolds. Assistant coaches Karl Scott and Jeff Howard handle the in-game substitutions and simply tell Macdonald who’s going in.
The head coach emphasized how “incredibly unselfish” the corners have been about the arrangement. The staff’s view is that the rotation is actually good for everyone involved: the team stays fresh, and each player puts strong tape out there in a defense that has helped Seattle reach a 9-3 record and stay in the thick of the NFC West race.
Here’s the snap counts between Woolen adn Jobe, according to Footballguys:
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Woolen: 35 snaps (69%), 48 (63%), then 39 (75%) over his last three games.
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Jobe: 31 snaps (61%), 59 (78%), 32 (62%) over his last three.
What It Means for Woolen and the Seahawks’ Defense
For Woolen, the comments amount to a public vote of confidence from a defensive-minded head coach. Macdonald’s praise for his competitiveness and daily intent suggests the staff still sees him as a core piece of Seattle’s future, even if the snap counts fluctuate week to week.
On the field, the rotation gives Seattle flexibility against different types of opponents. Woolen’s length and speed — he famously ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the combine — remain valuable against bigger outside receivers. Jobe brings a physical presence, and Bryant’s communication and ball skills allow the Seahawks to match up and disguise coverages in various packages.
With a road game against the Atlanta Falcons up next and a tight NFC West race unfolding, Macdonald’s message was simple: the cornerback competition is real, but it’s bringing out the best in Woolen rather than pushing him aside. The former Pro Bowler may be part of a rotation now, but the way his head coach talks about him makes it clear he’s still a major part of Seattle’s defensive identity.
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