With Uchenna Nwosu out, can Darrell Taylor stop the run? Will Seahawks make a move?
Uchenna Nwosu is out, likely for the year.
It’s Darrell Taylor’s time. Again.
Nwosu confirmed Tuesday night at an autograph appearance at Northwest Sports Cards in Tacoma that he will be having surgery for his pectoral muscle injury, according to Aaron Levine of Fox 13 Seattle television. Nwosu said he hopes to return to play for any Seattle postseason games, per Levine.
Nwosu, the team’s co-leader in sacks last season, had two sacks in the first six games of this season.
Coach Pete Carroll said Monday it appeared Nwosu needed surgery and it would end his season.
Nwosu, 26, signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension this summer, with $32 million guaranteed. He is the only returning starter on Seattle’s defensive line from last year. He’s been a reason the Seahawks have improved from one of the NFL’s worst defenses to among its best through six games this season.
“He’s one of the real pillars of this thing, and it’s going to be hard to not have him,” Carroll said. “He has a great voice, and they listen to him. He doesn’t say a lot, but when he does he’s strong and firm. That’s leadership. We’re going to miss that.
“There’s really no way to replace that. He’s too unique. “Other guys will have to add what they can bring.
“We’re going to really miss ‘Chenna.”
Nwosu’s value is playing effectively every down, against the run and pass.
That is Taylor’s challenge now.
It’s been his challenge for years.
The hot-and-cold, second-round draft choice by the Seahawks in 2020 is the outside linebacker next up to fill Nwosu’s role. That is, starting opposite Boye Mafe, the second-year revelation with four sacks and stellar play so far this season.
Taylor, 26, has been a situational pass rusher since the latter half of last season. Now he needs to set one edge of Seattle’s run defense that with Nwosu doing it was allowing the second-fewest yards per carry in the league (3.5).
“We need him. We need him to be a factor,” Carroll said of Taylor.
“We’re calling on him to be a bigger part of it.”
Darrell Taylor against the run
Taylor was a bigger part of it to begin last season. He was the every-down outside linebacker essentially playing end against the run and edge rushing quarterbacks opposite Nwosu.
But Taylor often ran straight up the field on running plays. That created freeway-sized lanes that running backs dashed through off tackle. On other running plays, blockers easily kept Taylor from setting an edge.
By midseason, with the Seahawks allowing rushing yards at a historically bad clip, Carroll and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt replaced Taylor on early downs with Mafe.
Taylor became a situational pass rusher. He went from 70 and 80% of snaps in September 2022 to 20 and 30% in November and December.
He thrived in that limited role late last season. He had 6 1/2 sacks over the final six regular-season games. He finished tied with Nwosu for the team lead with 9 1/2 total sacks.
This season, he had his first 1 1/2 sacks of 2023 last weekend in Seattle’s 20-10 win over Arizona. He played (with pink hair) 59% of the Seahawks’ defensive snaps against the Cardinals. That was his most since week two at Detroit, when Mafe was out with an injured knee.
When Mafe returned the following week, Taylor played just 11% of defensive snaps in Seattle’s home win over Carolina.
With the Cleveland Browns (4-2 and second in NFL in rushing offense) coming to Seattle to play the Seahawks (4-2) this Sunday then Seattle’s road game at the Baltimore Ravens (third in rushing offense) Nov. 5, the time for Taylor to be better and more disciplined against the run is now.
“He’s got to find his consistency with it,” Carroll said.
“He’s playing in crucial situations, too, so we’re counting on him.”
Carroll and Hurtt like what they’ve seen so far from rookie outside linebacker Derick Hall. The second-round pick from Auburn has played in fewer than one-third of Seattle’s defensive snaps this season.
That is likely to change beginning Sunday against the Browns.
“He’s coming. He had his best game on special teams (against Arizona),” Carroll said. “It was great to see that. Most consistent game there. It’s just time.”
A veteran signing?
The league’s trading deadline is less than a week away, Oct. 31.
Reports are teams have called the Minnesota Vikings about the availability of three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
That seems like a pipe dream for Seahawks fans.
He restructured his contract this summer. It pays him $11.5 million guaranteed, plus $1.5 million per game in bonus money. Even prorated for a little more than half this season, that’s still a hefty price for any team to take on.
Plus, the Vikings’ upset win over San Francisco Monday night has them 3-4 and still just two games out of first place in the NFC North. They may not be in their rumored fire-sale mode by next week.
Veteran free-agent pass rushers are also available, such as former Seahawk Frank Clark. But there are reasons 30-year-old edge rushers are released by two teams since last season and available in the NFL at Halloween.
Carroll was asked Monday if Nwosu’s injury has the Seahawks shopping to add a veteran pass rusher.
“We’re not thinking like that yet,” Carroll said. “We’re going to try to absorb it.”
This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 5:01 AM.
