Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori back for Seahawks? One more likely than other
Their coach calls playing without practicing all week “a dangerous game.”
It’s one the Seahawks are willing to play with Devon Witherspoon.
The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback has a bruised medial collateral ligament in his knee, coach Mike Macdonald said Monday. That was a day after Witherspoon ran a half-dozen or more sprints of 40 yards early pregame in Pittsburgh, testing a right knee that had a brace over it.
The team’s athletic training staff and coaches ultimately decided Witherspoon would not play Sunday. He missed his first game after 20 consecutive played.
Recently signed Derion Kendrick back-filled inside at fifth, nickel defensive back with Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe starting as outside cornerbacks. Kendrick had a key interception in the end zone in the third quarter of Seattle’s 31-17 victory over the Steelers.
Witherspoon did not practice last week. He was doubtful to play in Pittsburgh. He may not practice this week.
But the coach said that doesn’t mean Witherspoon won’t play Sunday when the Seahawks (1-1) host the New Orleans Saints (0-2).
“Look, anytime you’re talking about possibly going in a game without practicing, that’s the dangerous game to play, not one we want to play consistently,” Macdonald said Monday, upon the team’s return from Pittsburgh.
“I think with ‘Spoon.’ he’s probably a guy that we’d be more inclined to do that with.”
The coach said the same is not true for Nick Emmanwori.
Nick Emmanwori needs practice
Emmanwori, the rookie safety, sustained a high-ankle sprain making his first NFL tackle on the fifth play of Seattle’s opening game Sept. 7 against San Francisco. The second-round draft choice missed the Pittsburgh game after also not practicing last week.
Macdonald said Monday Emmanwori isn’t likely to play again until he practices first.
Macdonald also said it’s possible Emmanwori returns to practice this week. “Nick probably needs more reps than ‘Spoon’ right now, but we’ll see,” the coach said. “We’ll see how it goes on Wednesday and Thursday with those two.”
Other injuries coming
Leaving Pittsburgh Sunday evening Macdonald and the team’s medical staff believed starting center Jalen Sundell getting leg cramps late and getting replaced by Olu Oluwatimi was Seattle’s only injury from the game.
Monday, the coach amended that. He said there were more players who came to team headquarters Monday injured in need of the training room.
“We had some guys, some things pop up this morning, so we’ll probably have some more info for you on Wednesday or Thursday as the week plays out,” Macdonald said. “It wasn’t as clean as we initially anticipated.”
Outside linebacker Derick Hall “got nicked up” late in the win over the Steelers, Macdonald said, “but I think he’s OK.”
Hall spent much of Sunday pushing Steelers blockers into the backfield and getting in on Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 6:52 PM.
