Tag: Uchenna Nwosu

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Packers in Week 15

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Packers in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks will host the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field on Sunday Night Football in Week 15. Mike Macdonald’s defense was dominant in last weekend’s victory over the Arizona Cardinals, limiting them to 18 points and intercepting Kyler Murray twice. We’ve compiled three bold predictions for the defense versus the Packers.

Uchenna Nwosu records a sack

Veteran EDGE Uchenna Nwosu returned from a lengthy stint on the sidelines last week. The sack-artist played just 30 snaps as Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde opted to ease him back into the lineup. He totaled one pressure via 17 pass-rushing snaps. Nwosu could sack Packers quarterback Jordan Love while handling a slightly larger workload.

Tyrice Knight keeps the hype going

Rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight has been a revelation since helping replace Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker in the starting lineup. Knight was everywhere in last weekend’s win over the Cardinals, leading the team with 12 total tackles en route to earning NFC Defensive Rookie of the Week honors. Look for the former UTEP standout to build on that performance against the Packers.

Ernest Jones IV forces a fumble

Off-ball linebacker Ernest Jones IV has been outstanding since arriving in Seattle via midseason trade, routinely leading the defense in tackles. Jones recorded his first turnover as a Seahawk by intercepting Murray last week. The do-it-all defender could generate a turnover for a second consecutive week by forcing a fumble versus the Packers.

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How did Seahawks EDGE Uchenna Nwosu fare in 1st game back?

How did Seahawks EDGE Uchenna Nwosu fare in 1st game back?

Seattle Seahawks EDGE Uchenna Nwosu returned to the lineup in Sunday’s 30-18 Week 14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Having suffered an injury during the preseason that sidelined him for the opening four contests, it represented Nwosu’s second appearance of the season after he played just 20 snaps and re-injured himself against the New York Giants in Week 5. Head coach Mike Macdonald wisely eased him back into the rotation on Sunday.

Nwosu played 30 snaps against the Cardinals. That accounted for just 21 percent of Seattle’s available defensive plays, according to data collected by The Football Guys. It’s clear Seattle wanted to manage Nwosu’s health and stamina given his lengthy layoff.

Pro Football Focus credited Nwosu with totaling one quarterback pressure via 17 pass-rushing opportunities. He was only afforded four opportunities as a run defender. Macdonald opted to rest Nwosu on obvious run downs, calling him into action in obvious pass rushing situations.

Unsurprisingly, Nwosu played behind Derick Hall, Boye Mafe, and Dre’Mont Jones at outside linebacker. All three rushers played significantly more snaps than Nwosu did. The former USC Trojan may have a difficult time breaking back into the rotation on a more full-time basis.

Most importantly, Nwosu escaped his first contest back unscathed and healthy. The Seahawks have a challenging contest against the 9-4 Green Bay Packers in Week 15. Nwosu will attempt to continue shaking off the rust while trying to make more of an impact on Macdonald’s defense.

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Is this Uchenna Nwosu’s last chance to stick with Seahawks?

Is this Uchenna Nwosu’s last chance to stick with Seahawks?

The Seattle Seahawks activated EDGE Uchenna Nwosu off IR on Thursday. Nwosu will play against the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s Week 14 NFC West showdown. This upcoming stint may represent his last opportunity to prove he should stick with the Seahawks for the foreseeable future.

It’s been a difficult period for Nwosu since recording a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2022. The former USC standout missed more than half of the 2023 campaign due to a pectoral injury suffered in Week 7. The 2024 season has welcomed more challenges.

Nwosu suffered an MCL sprain in the preseason finale that kept him sidelined for Seattle’s opening four regular-season contests. The Seahawks never placed him on IR and he healed slightly slower than expected. Nwosu made his 2024 debut against the New York Giants in Week 5, but that only lasted 20 snaps. He exited with a thigh injury and was placed on IR. He’s been absent since.

Nwosu hasn’t been consistently healthy since 2022. Since then, the Seahawks have wisely invested premium resources into the EDGE position, signing Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year contract worth more than $51 million, and drafting Boye Mafe and Derick Hall with back-to-back second round picks in 2022 and 2023. All three of those rushers have produced in Nwosu’s absence.

Nwosu is technically signed through 2026, but he doesn’t possess any guaranteed money remaining on his contract moving forward. General manager John Schneider could release Nwosu from his deal in the offseason and save nearly $15 million versus the 2025 cap if he designates the transaction as a post-June move, according to OverTheCap. The dead-cap charge would be a manageable $6.5 million. If the Seahawks wanted the funds immediately, a pre-June move would penalize them $13 million in dead money while creating $8.4 million in immediate financial flexibility.

The Seahawks are currently scheduled to be $6 million over the 2025 cap. That qualifies as the third-worst cap situation of any team in the league heading into the offseason. It’s a minimal amount that Schneider should easily navigate, but it makes creating funds via releasing players a borderline necessity.

Hall and Mafe are long-term pieces on affordable rookie contracts. Jones is signed through just next season and is an alternative potential cap casualty, buy why would the Seahawks choose to release Jones over Nwosu when the former has been healthy and productive? If Nwosu wants to make this a difficult decision for Schneider, he needs to stay available and impactful down the stretch of the 2024 campaign.

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3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Cardinals in Week 14

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks defense vs. Cardinals in Week 14

The Seattle Seahawks face a critical matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s Week 14 game. It’s a potentially decisive NFC West rematch after the Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 16-6 two weeks ago. Sunday’s outcome will have a drastic impact on the standings and postseason odds. Mike Macdonald’s defense was downright dominant in that victory a fortnight ago. We’ve compiled three bold predictions for the defense in Week 14.

Uchenna Nwosu records a sack in his return

Macdonald’s defense received some excellent news on Thursday as the team activated Uchenna Nwosu off IR. It should provide the defense with a major jolt in the arm. The team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award nominee, Nwosu has barely played in 2024, initially missing the opening four contests after suffering an injury in the preseason finale. His return from that setback lasted precisely just 20 snaps before a thigh injury sidelined him again. Look for the anxious defender to sack Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Sunday on his triumphant return.

Leonard Williams keeps dominant run going

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams has been on a tear in recent weeks and that ongoing streak first began against the Cardinals in Week 12. Williams was unstoppable, sacking Murray 2.5 times. His latest performance against the New York Jets earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Cardinals aren’t looking forward to seeing him again.

Seahawks limit Cardinals to under 75 rushing yards

Arizona simply couldn’t run the football against Seattle’s stout defensive front two weeks ago. Running backs James Conner and Trey Benson were limited to 26 rushing yards via 11 carries (2.36 yards per carry). The Cardinals totaled under 50 net rushing yards. Similar results could occur on Sunday.

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Seahawks activate LB Uchenna Nwosu from IR

Seahawks activate LB Uchenna Nwosu from IR

It has been a massive Thursday for Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. Earlier in the morning, Nwosu was announced by the Seahawks as their nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Nwosu’s good day didn’t end there, as Seattle’s top pass rusher was just activated off the injured reserve list!

Nwosu has had an incredibly frustrating season this year. After missing more than half of the 2023 campaign due to a pectoral injury suffered in Week 7, Nwosu has barely played in 2024. An MCL sprain in the preseason finale kept him out of the first four games of 2024.

Sadly his return in Week 5 was short lived, as he only played 20 snaps in the eventual 29-20 loss to the New York Giants before exiting early with a thigh injury. Nwosu once again found himself back on the IR.

However, perhaps his injury luck (fingers crossed!) is taking a turn for the better. Nwosu returned to practice ahead of the Week 13 game against the Jets, and the fact he is activated paves the way for him to take the field in Arizona. The Seahawks face a crucial divisional rematch with the Cardinals, where first place in the NFC West is on the line.

Seattle will need all the help they can get to replicate their defensive dominance against Kyler Murray and the Arizona offense. Nwosu certainly represents said help in a big way.

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Seahawks nominate Uchenna Nwosu for Walter Payton Man of the Year

Seahawks nominate Uchenna Nwosu for Walter Payton Man of the Year

The most prestigious honor in all of football is not the Most Valuable Player, or which All-Pro team one qualifies for. The best award a player can end the year with is the illustrious Walter Payton Man of the Year award, highlighting a player’s excellence on and off the field as an upstanding member of his community.

Nominees for all 32 teams in the league have been announced, including the Seattle Seahawks. Representing the Hawks, the 12th Man and the City of Seattle is none other than linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.

This is the second time Nwosu has been nominated for Man of the Year honors, the first being his second season in the league. Now, he once again is up for the biggest award in football. Nwosu founded the Uchenna Nwosu Foundation in 2023, and the impact is evident. Recently, Nwosu traveled to his father’s home village in Nigeria to restore electricity and rebuild roads. His donations also helped pay for an athletic trainer at his former high school.

To date, there have been only two Seahawks to win the Walter Payton Man of the Year award: Steve Largent in 1988 and Russell Wilson in 2020. Should Nwosu take home these honors, he will forever wear a Walter Payton silhouette patch on his jersey, no matter the team he plays for.

Nwosu has not been able to make much of an impact on the field this year due to unfortunate injuries, but that has clearly not prevented him from making an impact off it.

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Seahawks waive WR/KR Laviska Shenault Jr. after disastrous performance

Seahawks waive WR/KR Laviska Shenault Jr. after disastrous performance

The tenure of wide receiver/kick returner Laviska Shenault Jr. in Seattle is officially over. On Monday, the Seahawks waived their utility man after a truly disastrous performance against the New York Jets that easily could have cost the team a much-needed win.

We at Seahawks Wire hammered Shenault for his outing in Week 13, but there is no such thing overstating how poor it was. After the other (struggling) return man Dee Williams fumbled the ball on a kick off, Shenault muffed a kick of his own. He was able to recover it, but it set the Seahawks up at their own 12 yard line… much deeper in their own territory than they needed to be. Fortunately for Shenault, Seattle was able to find the end zone that drive.

Immediately after New York scored on a 99-yard kick off, Shenault once again had a chance to redeem himself. Instead, he muffed the return again, and this time the ball was recovered by the Jets at Seattle’s 38 yard line. The Seahawks were down 21-7 at this point and New York had all the momentum. The Jets were in prime position to make it a 28-7 game, effectively putting it out of reach for Seattle this early on. Once again, fortune bailed out Shenault when Leonard Williams intercepted Aaron Rodgers and returned it 92-yards for a touchdown – the longest by a defensive linemen in NFL history.

It seems that was the end of the line for Shenault, as the team won’t allow him to place them in another opportunity where they would need a potentially history-making play to save the day. Shenault ends his Seattle career with 459 return yards and a 97-yard return touchdown. He also had two fumbles as well.

The Seahawks also had to make a roster decision anyways. Top pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu and right tackle Stone Forsythe are back from injured reserve, and head coach Mike Macdonald hinted Nwosu’s return could be “sooner than later.” Should that be the case (especially if “sooner” means Week 14 against the Cardinals) a spot on the active 53-man roster is now open for him.

Seattle’s special teams have been nothing short of a terrible liability all season long, and Shenault has been a key contributor in the mess. As for his running mate, the aforementioned Dee Williams, the writing is on the wall that this staff will no longer tolerate self-inflicted wounds of his nature.

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Uchenna Nwosu and Stone Forsythe have been ruled OUT for Seahawks

Uchenna Nwosu and Stone Forsythe have been ruled OUT for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are relatively healthy going into their Week 13 showdown against the New York Jets. On Friday’s injury report, no players were listed as OUT or DOUBTFUL, with only two players designated as QUESTIONABLE – with one of them (tight end Brady Russell) a full participant at practice.

While the team had a pretty clean injury report, there was a slight amendment to the list. The Seahawks officially ruled OUT linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and right tackle Stone Forsythe. Both players officially returned to practice after stints on the injured reserve list. Nwosu not playing on Sunday is hardly a surprise, he was not expected to return immediately. Nwosu is an elite pass rusher when healthy, but sadly his body has not been kind to him these last two years with injuries. Hopefully, he can return for a late season playoff push.

As for Stone Forsythe, it will be good to get him back onto the active 53-man roster to help give depth to the right tackle position. Abe Lucas in his return has looked solid, but as the Seahawks have learned the last two seasons, there is no such thing as too much depth at right tackle.

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Seahawks place G Anthony Bradford on Injured Reserve

Seahawks place G Anthony Bradford on Injured Reserve

The Seattle Seahawks have made a litany of roster moves on Wednesday morning. The biggest of course concerning the health of starting right guard Anthony Bradford. During the 16-6 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 12, Seattle’s already struggling offensive line took another hit health wise. Bradford exited the game early with an ankle injury. During the postgame press conference, head coach Mike Macdonald alluded to Bradford’s injury being serious enough to cost him some time.

Unfortunately, Macdonald’s words proved true. On Wednesday, the Seahawks placed Bradford on injured reserve. He will now miss the next four games at minimum. Bradford has struggled mightily this year, especially in the first half of the season. But he has been a starter. The presumed replacement is rookie Christian Haynes, who was arguably the top guard prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. However, Macdonald has alluded that fellow rookie Sataoa Laumea (a four-year starter at Utah) could be in the mix for the starting role.

Filling the open roster spot is linebacker Patrick O’Connell, who was signed from the practice squad. O’Connell has played in the last two games, as well as the Week 3 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Additional roster moves include top pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu and right tackle Stone Forsythe being designated to return from practice. Nwosu missed the first four games of the season with an MCL injury, and shortly left in his return to action in Week 5 to return to the injured reserve list with a thigh injury. Nwosu is not expected to be ready for Week 13 against the New York Jets.

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Seahawks EDGE Uchenna Nwosu will return to practice this week

Seahawks EDGE Uchenna Nwosu will return to practice this week

Seattle Seahawks EDGE defender Uchenna Nwosu will return to practice later this week. Head coach Mike Macdonald announced the expectation during Tuesday’s press conference with the media. Nwosu’s return to practice will trigger his three-week window to be activated off IR, insinuating he’ll play again for the Seahawks this season.

It’s been a difficult year for Nwosu. The former USC standout initially suffered a sprained MCL knee injury during the preseason finale versus the Cleveland Browns that cost him the opening four games of Seattle’s 2024 season. Nwosu made his midseason debut, but then suffered a thigh injury against the New York Giants in Week 5 that led to his current stint on IR.

Injuries have derailed Nwosu for two consecutive seasons now. In 2023, the versatile pass rusher was lost for the entire campaign after suffering a pectoral injury in Week 7. Nwosu’s in the midst of the second year of his three-year contract he signed prior to the 2023 season.

When Nwosu was last completely healthy, he recorded 9.5 sacks during the 2022 campaign. The Seahawks are fortunately deep at the pass-rushing positions and have managed to survive Nwosu’s absence. Leonard Williams played his best game of the season in Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. Derick Hall and Boye Mafe continue to take steps forward for Mike Macdonald’s defense as well.

Nwosu could be targeting the Green Bay Packers game in Week 15 or Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 for his return.

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