Seahawks defense loses top pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu to likely season-ending surgery
The Seahawks and their improved defense are going to be without their top and highest-paid pass rusher, probably for the rest of this season.
Uchenna Nwosu, the team’s co-leader in sacks last season who signed a $59 million contract extension this summer, is likely heading to surgery to repair the pectoral-muscle injury he suffered Sunday in Seattle’s win over Arizona. Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Nwosu underwent MRI tests and surgery is likely to put him on season-ending injured reserve.
“He’s got a pec injury that is probably going to require surgery,” Carroll said. “That’s what we’re hearing right now.”
Darrell Taylor is likely to move into Nwosu’s role as an every-down outside linebacker on the edge of the defensive line, against the run and pass. Boye Mafe and rookier Derick Hall also should see more plays and rise in importance in Seattle’s defense, beginning Sunday against the Cleveland Browns (4-2) at Lumen Field.
Taylor had the every-down role at outside linebacker opposite Nwosu early last season. He often ran straight up the field out of run lanes or got easily blocked out of them. Mafe then replaced Taylor on run downs.
“He sure is capable of making things happen,” Carroll said of Taylor. “So, we’re calling on him to be part of it. ...
“He’s got to find his consistency with (run defense).”
Taylor rebounded to finish last season with strong performances in a pass-rush role. He and Nwosu shared the 2022 Seahawks team lead with 9 1/2 sacks each.
“We’ve got to count on our rotation. We’ve had a rotation going the whole time,” Carroll said of Seattle’s edge rushers the final months of this season without Nwosu.
It is a big loss for the Seahawks’ defense. Nwosu has a spirit, a sense of leadership by example — plus a license from Carroll to freelance and charge up field. That makes him unique in Seattle’s defense.
“Uchenna’s a fantastic football player and a great team member. He’s such a tough guy, heady player, and so consistent. Always very physical, so he always sends the right message and all that.
“We are really going to miss him.”
Cue the speculation of available free-agent pass rushers Seattle might be interested in signing to back-fill Nwosu.
Former Seahawks second-round draft choice Frank Clark is available. The Chiefs, to which Seattle traded him before the 2019 season, and last week Broncos have released him since last season.
In the NFL, there are reasons 30-year-old free agents are unsigned into Halloween, even at coveted positions such as pass rusher.
Carroll downplayed his Seahawks signing one this week.
“We aren’t thinking like that, yet,” the coach said. “We are going to try to absorb it.”
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 4:00 PM.
