The stakes are high as the Green Bay Packers head to Seattle for a Sunday Night Football showdown with the Seahawks. The home team leads the NFC West but the…
Fantasy News: Kenneth Walker III Out for Seahawks vs. Cardinals with Calf Injury
Dec 7, 2024
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 01: Kenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball up the field in the second quarter of a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 01, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks' running back depth will be tested this week.
The Seahawks announced Saturday that Kenneth Walker III has been downgraded to out ahead of Sunday's clash with the Arizona Cardinals.
Walker missed Thursday and Friday's practices after being listed as limited on Wednesday. Walker is dealing with ankle and calf injuries.
Walker has run for 542 yards with seven touchdowns on the season. The third-year back exceeded 900 yards in each of his prior two seasons and is the feature back for a Seattle team that is 7-5 and fighting for an NFC West title.
Zach Charbonnet figures to take the majority of carries against the Cardinals. He has 75 carries on the season and has rushed for 266 yards and five touchdowns.
Beyond Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh will likely see some carries and the newly-elevated George Holani could see the field too. McIntosh has four carries for 16 yards while Holani has not played thus far.
Quarterback Geno Smith could also pick up some of the rushing slack as he has 45 carries for 226 yards on the season.
Geno Smith Posts Funeral Meme After Seahawks' Win vs. Aaron Rodgers, Jets
Dec 1, 2024
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 01: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to throw a pass in the first quarter of a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 01, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith spearheaded a 26-21 comeback victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, and he had a little fun on social media afterward.
Smith trolled the Jets, who drafted him with a second-round pick in 2013, by posting the infamous funeral meme following the victory:
Smith threw for 206 yards and a touchdown in his return to MetLife Stadium as the Seahawks overcame a 21-7 deficit to improve to 7-5. The loss dropped the Jets to 3-9, effectively ending their season and ensuring their ninth straight losing campaign. Still, the 34-year-old didn't play up the revenge factor following the win.
"I'm not going to make it about myself," Smith said after the game. "I really did enjoy my time in New York. We're on a mission right now. The Jets were the next opponent."
Smith wasn't the only former New York draft pick to have a big day in Sunday's game, as Seattle defensive tackle Leonard Williams had two sacks, a blocked extra point and a 92-yard interception return touchdown. Williams began his career with the Jets as their first-round pick in 2015 before being traded to the New York Giants in 2019. The NFL announced that he's the first player since 1982 to record multiple sacks, an interception-return touchdown and a blocked kick in the same game.
The Jets will continue trudging along in another lost season when they meet the Miami Dolphins (5-7) next Sunday, while Smith, Williams and the Seahawks will be seeking their fourth straight win when they meet the Arizona Cardinals (6-6).
Video: Seahawks' Coby Bryant Fined for Marshawn Lynch TD Celebration vs. Cardinals
Nov 30, 2024
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 24: Coby Bryant #8 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts to a play during the game against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at Lumen Field on November 24, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant was fined $6,594 by the NFL for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during last Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
The penalty stemmed from a gesture paying tribute to longtime Seahawk Marshawn Lynch. On his way into the end zone, Bryant performed an "obscene" celebration that included a "crotch grab."
The NFL fined #Seahawks CB Coby Bryant $6,594 for unsportsmanlike conduct (obscene gestures) — his Marshawn Lynch tribute with a crotch grab on the way into the end zone last week.
Bryant finished Sunday's 16-6 victory over the Cardinals with six tackles and a pick-six, which resulted in the touchdown at the center of the controversy.
The cornerback told reporters after the game that the celebration was planned and was inspired by a source of "energy" emanating from his dad and brother.
"Actually, I talk to my dad and my brother before every game and I just sensed the energy from those two before the game, and I told them once I get a pick-six I was doing it, because we're playing the Cardinals and everything," Bryant said.
Lynch famously used the gesture twice before at the end of two of his most iconic runs. Once in a playoff game-sealing touchdown against the New Orleans Saints and again on a 79-yard touchdown run in 2014 against the Cardinals.
"I was actually watching the (Arizona) game with my dad (at home)," Bryant said, according to Yahoo Sports' Kole Musgrove. "I am so happy to be drafted here. I told my parents I was going to do it, and it manifested itself!"
Despite the celebration controversy, Bryant's standout performance was acknowledged by the NFL, as he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
The 25-year-old out of Cincinnati has 39 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended this season.
DK Metcalf Talks Seahawks' Playoff Race, JSN, Injury Return and More in B/R Interview
Nov 25, 2024
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 20: DK Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Don't worry, Seattle Seahawks fans.
Despite going nearly a month in between game action because of an injury, DK Metcalf's knee is doing just fine after two games back.
"I would not step on the field if I couldn't be myself," the wide receiver told Bleacher Report. "So everything is smooth, and the knee held up very well."
While Metcalf didn't completely take over his two games since returning with 70 yards against the San Francisco 49ers and 59 yards against the Arizona Cardinals, the end result was two victories. And that is a very different end result than the team's two straight losses against the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams when he was sidelined.
At least the timing of the injury could have been far worse, as the Week 10 bye meant he missed just two games in between the Oct. 20 win over the Atlanta Falcons and Nov. 17 win over the 49ers.
His temporary absence also meant more opportunities for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which figures to pay dividends as the season progresses.
While Metcalf is the two-time Pro Bowler with three seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards and two seasons of double-digit touchdown catches, Geno Smith and the Seahawks now have another go-to option playing alongside him.
Smith-Njigba was a 2023 first-round draft pick and showed flashes of his potential as a rookie, but his second season is turning into a breakout one. He already has more catches (66) and receiving yards (755) in 11 games than he did last year, and he posted 180 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams when Metcalf was out.
"He's been a star since the day he was drafted in the league," Metcalf said of his fellow wide receiver. "It was just a matter of time before his star started to shine in the league like it did in college."
That star continued shining even upon his teammate's return, as Smith-Njigba put up 110 yards against the 49ers and 77 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's critical NFC West win over the Cardinals.
Seattle will need that type of production in the rematch in Arizona on Dec. 8 in a game that will be important for Metcalf beyond just the divisional implications.
He will participate in the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative that has allowed players to support personal causes and philanthropy since 2016 with custom-designed cleats. The receiver will support two causes—Prison Fellowship and Sound—with his custom cleats for that Dec. 8 game.
"I chose Prison Fellowship because I was in church one day and the pastor was talking about prisoners and how they don't have a second chance in life," Metcalf said. "Just taking it upon myself to shed light on the situation and try to give more prisoners a second chance at having their life saved or a second chance at life in general because they feel forgotten at times."
Prison Fellowship attempts to "restore America's criminal justice system and those it affects" and will "advocate for justice reform and activate grassroots networks to do the same." It features in-prison programs as well as mentorship and help upon reentry into society for people when they are released from prison.
As for Sound, it is "one of King County's most comprehensive providers of quality mental health and addiction treatment services, supporting our area's most vulnerable populations."
That it is a local organization was important for Metcalf, who has been in Seattle since the Seahawks selected him in the 2019 NFL draft.
"The organization Sound, I recently learned ASL, and I wanted to bring more light on the deaf community, mainly here in Seattle which is basically my second home," he said. "It made sense, and they also have a variety of other causes that they support."
This year's My Cause My Cleats initiative will be a little different as well because players such as Metcalf, Josh Allen and Maxx Crosby were able to design the cleats themselves with help from AWS' generative AI tool that allowed them to personalize the style, color and textures before they were then hand painted by the artists.
"In the past I left it up to the artists to design the cleat, but this year with gen AI it allowed me and both organizations to type in keywords that meant something special," Metcalf said. "And then the gen AI came up with the design for the cleat. It basically let us choose the colors or how we wanted the design to look with whether it was bigger or smaller and whatever words we wanted to put on the cleat.
"So the cleat is going to be very bright just to draw eyes to it and make people look and wonder what organization I'm supporting. And the hope is the words on the cleat bring light to make people want to look more into the organizations."
He also likes the way they will look on the field as the team chases a postseason spot because "anything looks good with Seahawks colors."
Landing that postseason spot will require more overall consistency from the team, as Seattle started 3-0 and appeared well on its way to being a force in the NFC before losing three in a row and five of its next six.
It was suddenly 4-5 after that stretch, which made the recent two-game bounce back against divisional opponents upon the receiver's return all the more important.
The Seahawks are in a better place at 6-5 with the dynamic duo of Metcalf and Smith-Njigba now back on the field and playing together. They are also reshifting their focus heading into the stretch run to avoid the dramatic swings that defined the start of the season.
"We're just taking it one week at a time and keeping our focus very narrow right now," Metcalf said. "And that's just focused on the next opponent and trying to beat them before moving on to the next week."
It may sound cliche, but it has worked since his return.
And consistency hasn't been as much of an issue when he is on the field, as Seattle is 6-3 with Metcalf in the lineup. Beyond his own individual production, he opens things up for Smith-Njigba, Tyler Lockett, Kenneth Walker III and others because of the double teams and additional attention he draws, which allows Smith to spread the ball around to all the weapons.
That formula has landed Seattle in a tie for first place in the NFC West with the Cardinals.
Yet they are just one game ahead of the 5-6 Rams and 49ers in the tightest division race from top to bottom in the NFL. Nobody has a better mark than 2-1 in intra-division games, meaning the tiebreakers are very much still up for grabs.
Seattle missed the playoffs last season but has the opportunity to avoid that fate in the next six weeks, especially with remaining games against the Cardinals and Rams.
So what needs to happen for the rest of the season to be considered a success?
"We make it to the playoffs and from there take it one game at a time," Metcalf said. "Like I said, we've got to take it one week at a time for us to make it to the playoffs."
Sometimes the simplest approach is the best one.
Video: Seahawks' Coby Bryant Pays Tribute to Marshawn Lynch with TD Celebration
Nov 24, 2024
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 24: Coby Bryant #8 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts to a play during the game against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at Lumen Field on November 24, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)
Coby Bryant paid tribute to a Seattle Seahawks legend on Sunday.
After the Seahawks' cornerback took back a pick-six against the Arizona Cardinals, he did a Marshawn Lynch-inspired celebration while diving into the endzone.
Lynch, who played for the Seahawks from 2010 to 2015 and retired with them in 2019, made the dive into the endzone his signature move while in Seattle. While Bryant, who was drafted in 2022, never played with Lynch, he clearly knows his Seahawks' history and paid homage to one of the greats on Sunday.
Lynch rushed for 1,000 or more yards in four of his seasons in Seattle, including a career-high 1,590 yards in 2012. He helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl in 2015.
Bryant, a fourth-round draft pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, is having a solid career thus far and is off to a great start in 2024. He had 33 tackles and an interception coming into Sunday's matchup and now has the first pick-six of his career.
Brock Purdy, 49ers Favored to Miss Playoffs as Geno Smith, Seahawks Amaze Fans in Win
Nov 18, 2024
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers by the final score of 20-17 in a hard-fought NFC West showdown on Sunday.
With Seattle trailing by four points and just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Geno Smith led the Seahawks on an impressive drive that was capped off by a 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.
GENO SMITH TAKES IT HIMSELF FOR THE LEAD WITH 12 SECONDS LEFT!!! 🤯😱
Smith finished 25-of-32 for 221 yards and an interception without recording a passing touchdown, but he helped the Seahawks repeatedly move the chains and converted multiple third-down opportunities on the final drive.
Fans and pundits were impressed with his resiliency.
An enormous, season-saving win for the Seahawks. Cannot say enough about Geno Smith continuing to make bad line play work. The return of Metcalf was huge for the passing game. The defense looks improved. Seattle's far from out of this.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was Smith's top target, hauling in 10 receptions for 110 yards. Kenneth Walker III also made an impact on the ground for Seattle, picking up 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
Brock Purdy struggled with inconsistency to begin the game, finishing 22-of-29 for 163 yards and a touchdown to go along with an interception. He also rushed for 40 yards and a score.
The Seahawks, 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are all tied for the No. 2 spot in the NFC West with identical 5-5 records following Sunday's result.
Connor Williams Retires from NFL at Age 27; Started Every Game for Seahawks in 2024
Nov 15, 2024
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 03: Connor Williams #57 of the Seattle Seahawks in action against the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at Lumen Field on November 03, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks starting center Connor Williams retired on Friday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
#Seahawks starting C Connor Williams has decided to retire, per coach Mike Macdonald.
Just 27 years old, Williams has started every game for Seattle after overcoming a major knee injury from his time in Miami. pic.twitter.com/KUcR9twtvd
Williams signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks in March and appeared in all nine games with the team to begin the 2024 season. He previously spent two years with the Miami Dolphins after he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys for the first four seasons of his career.
The 27-year-old will be replaced by 2023 fifth-round pick Olu Oluwatimi in Seattle's starting offense, per Rapoport.
Williams spent the 2023 season with the Miami Dolphins, suiting up in nine games before he suffered a torn ACL in Week 9.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed on Friday that the center's retirement was due to "personal reasons" and his knee injury wasn't a factor in the final decision, via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.
Williams was originally selected by the Cowboys with a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. He spent most of his time at tackle during his college days at Texas, earning All-American honors in 2016 before transitioning to guard once he was drafted by Dallas.
He started in 86 of the 92 games played throughout his NFL career. He improved with each year before his 2023 campaign was cut short, earning an impressive 86.5 grade from Pro Football Focus last season. He received an overall grade above 70 in each year from 2020 through 2023.
Williams wasn't able to maintain his productivity in his first year with Seattle, earning a 63.9 PFF grade and committing eight penalties in 618 snaps played.
After falling to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime during a Week 9 matchup, the Seahawks will attempt to close out the regular season with an adjusted interior offensive line.
Dolphins' Tyrel Dodson 'Very Pissed Off' at Seahawks After Surprisingly Being Waived
Nov 15, 2024
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 10: Linebacker Tyrel Dodson #0 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, at Lumen Field on October 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson wasn't pleased after he was unexpectedly waived by the Seattle Seahawks on Monday.
"We're still trying to figure that out," Dodson said on Thursday, via David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk). "Emotionally, I'm still going through ups and downs of it. I'm pissed off. I'm very pissed off, and I'm going to probably stay pissed off until my career ends, years down the road. I'm pissed off. That's the word."
Dodson didn't have to wait long before he found a change of scenery, as he was claimed by the Dolphins on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old amassed a team-high 71 tackles in nine games with the Seahawks. He also recorded five tackles for loss, two sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Dodson was even named a captain prior to a Week 8 matchup with his former team, the Buffalo Bills.
Seattle has lost five of its last six games. Over that span, head coach Mike Macdonald's defense has allowed 29.7 points per game.
Macdonald provided an explanation for the release on Monday.
"We really appreciate T-Dot," Macdonald said, per ESPN's Brady Henderson. "He's worked extremely hard, rehabbed throughout the offseason here. I think it was an opportunity for us when we kind of ... took a step back and realized where we were at, it was the best thing for us to move forward that way, give the other guys in the room an opportunity to step up."
"I hope those guys grab that opportunity by the horns and take it and run with it, and then it gives Tyrel an opportunity to find another spot somewhere else so he can finish the year strong," he added.
While the Dolphins own a mere 3-6 record, they're still just two wins behind the Denver Broncos for the final AFC playoff spot. With starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back under center, Miami added Dodson to help with a potential postseason push.
The Dolphins will attempt to earn a second consecutive win when they face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
DK Metcalf Trade Rumors: Seahawks WR Won't Be Moved at 2024 NFL Deadline Despite Buzz
Nov 5, 2024
ATLANTA, GA OCTOBER 20: Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) goes in motion during the NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons on October 20th, 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks won't deal wide receiver DK Metcalf before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Sunday there was "a lot of speculation out there" but that the Seahawks had no intention of moving Metcalf.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler followed up Tuesday and reported Seattle received trade calls on the two-time Pro Bowler and held firm.
While the Seahawks are 4-5, they're only a game behind the first-place Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. They're not so far out of the playoff race that they should be a seller at the deadline.
Metcalf is also signed for one more season, so there isn't an imminent threat of him leaving in the offseason. Especially if the franchise winds up turning the page at quarterback, his presence will be a nice luxury for whoever succeeds Geno Smith.
For rival teams, it was at least worth trying and seeing whether Seattle would bite on any trade offers.
Metcalf is on pace to have one of his best seasons. Through seven appearances, he has 35 receptions for 568 yards and three touchdowns. His 81.1 receiving yards per game are the sixth-highest in the league.
Because of the 26-year-old's free agency in 2026, the Seahawks will have to make a big decision on his future eventually. Based on the current market, he stands to make $30 million or more annually on his next contract.
General manager John Schneider still has plenty of time to determine whether he wants to extend Metcalf or feels it's time to move on.
