Seahawks getting 2 Pro Bowl vets back to play at Arizona. But new O-line issue
Though it’s a short week, it’s long enough for the Seahawks to get two of their best players back from injury for a key division game.
Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon and Pro Bowl safety Julian Love will play Thursday when the Seahawks play for the second time in five days at their NFC West-rival Arizona Cardinals.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday following practice Witherspoon has healed from missing two games with an ankle injury. Love missed Seattle’s win last weekend over New Orleans.
Three other regulars may not play.
Rookie safety Nick Emmanwori is doubtful. He’s probably going to miss his third consecutive game. He sustained a high-ankle sprain on his fourth NFL play Sept. 7 tackling San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey in Seattle’s opener.
Starting right guard Anthony Bradford, running back Zach Charbonnet and outside linebacker Boye Mafe are questionable. Bradford has a new back issue. Charbonnet missed the Saints game with a foot injury. Mafe injured his toe against New Orleans.
If Charbonnet can’t play, second-year runner George Holani will again be the backup to lead back Kenneth Walker in Arizona.
Reserve tackle Josh Jones will not play Thursday. He is out with an ankle injury he got playing the fourth quarter of the Seahawks’ 44-13 blowout of the Saints last Sunday.
Bradford’s iffy status and backup guard Christian Haynes still being on injured reserve remind that the Seahawks recently signed veteran guard Shane Lemieux to their practice squad. Macdonald said the 28-year-old former Oregon Duck with 16 career NFL starts with the New York Giants (2020-23) and Saints (2024) is ready to play, if needed.
Lemieux is familiar with Seattle’s outside-zone blocking system and the play-call terminology of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and offensive line coach John Benton. Kubiak and Benton coached Lemieux last season with New Orleans.
Another option if Bradford can’t play: Center Jalen Sundell starting at right guard and Olu Oluwatimi starting at center, which he did the final two months of last season after Connor Williams abruptly retired. That is, if the coaches want to interrupt Sundell’s strong performances at center to begin this season.
“Good preparation the last three days. Guys have done a great job trying to get their bodies and minds right, ready for the game,” Macdonald said, of his entire roster. “It’s a quick turnaround, obviously. But we’re excited to hop on a plane and go play the game (Thursday).”
Robbie Ouzts to injured reserve
The Seahawks put rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts on the injured reserve list Wednesday. The fifth-round draft choice from Alabama injured his ankle in the second half of the Saints game.
Macdonald said the team expects Ouzts to return soon after the minimum of four weeks he must miss, per the NFL’s rules for players on injured reserve returning in the same season.
The Seahawks signed safety and special-teams player D’Anthony Bell off the practice squad to the active roster to take Ouzts place on it. Bell played on defense last weekend against New Orleans, because Love and Emmanwori were out.
Brady Russell, a special-teams mainstay plus part-time tight end, is ready to play fullback in front of primarily Walker in Arizona Thursday.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM.
