Devon Witherspoon tries but can’t go in Pittsburgh. No Jalen Milroe, either
Devon Witherspoon tried, but he missed his reunion game with DK Metcalf.
The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback ran extensively down the sideline 40-yard sprints for about 20 minutes about two hours before kickoff Sunday of the Seahawks’ game at the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a wrap over his injured right knee.
He huffed and puffed and consulted with trainers. Then 90 minutes before the game his team declared him inactive to play.
Witherspoon had been doubtful. His streak of 20 consecutive games played back to his rookie season of 2023 ended because of the injury he got colliding with teammate Josh Jobe on Jobe’s leaping interception in Seattle’s opening loss to San Francisco.
Veteran Shaquill Griffin and second-year cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett were poised to replace Witherspoon playing with Riq Woolen and Jobe in nickel defense against Metcalf, the former Seahawks wide receiver, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Friday before the Seahawks left for Pittsburgh his team’s medical staff does not believe Witherspoon’s injury is serious requiring a long-term absence. His extensive running on the knee Sunday morning was an indication of that.
Jalen Milroe not playing
The Seahawks left third-string rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe inactive.
That was after the Steelers defense no doubt spent a chunk of their preparation week scheming for the special package of run-pass plays Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak showed a peek of in the opener against the 49ers.
Other inactive Seahawks
Injured rookie safety Nick Emmanwori did not suit up. He is recovering from a high-ankle sprain he got on the fifth play of the season against San Francisco. Teammate DeMarcus Lawrence fell on Emmanwori’s leg as the rookie was tackling Christian McCaffrey behind the line of scrimmage Sept. 7.
Macdonald said Friday the Seahawks do not believe Emmanwori will need to go on injured reserve. That indicates the team thinks the second-round draft choice will be back playing in fewer than four weeks, the minimum stay on injured reserve.
Rookie linebacker Jared Ivey, rookie linebacker Coonor O’Toole, rookie offensive lineman Mason Richman and rookie tight end Nick Kallerup were the other inactive Seahawks Sunday.
This story was originally published September 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM.
