The Seattle Seahawks are getting healthy in a hurry—and just in time for the second half of the season. According to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, the Seahawks will have several key defensive players returning from injury following their bye week, including safety Julian Love, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and safety Nick Emmanwori.
“The Seahawks will get Julian Love (four missed games) and Devon Witherspoon (five) back post-bye. Nick Emmanwori (three and most of a fourth) also missed time,” Henderson reported.
Love has missed four games with a hamstring injury, while Witherspoon has been sidelined for five with a shoulder issue. Emmanwori, the team’s promising rookie safety, missed three games and most of a fourth after suffering an early-season knee injury.
### Defense Holds Strong Despite Absences
Despite the absences of these key players, Seattle’s defense has quietly been one of the league’s best. The Seahawks are allowing just 19.4 points per game—the sixth-fewest in the NFL—and maintaining a slightly better defensive record than division-leading San Francisco. This performance is especially impressive considering they’ve played most of the last month without three starters in the secondary.
### Depth Players Step Up
Seattle’s defensive backfield has been held together by unsung contributors. Ty Okada, a third-year defensive back who made the 53-man roster as a special-teams standout, has drawn praise from coaches for his versatility and tackling in space. Defensive backs Josh Jobe and Coby Bryant have filled in admirably; both recorded five solo tackles against the Texans, with Jobe also knocking down a pair of passes.
The Seattle defensive front has shown why the Seahawks are trending in an elite direction. DeMarcus Lawrence registered two tackles for losses and a sack against the Texans, while linebackers Ernest Jones (who led the game with 11 tackles) and Uchenna Nwosu were active in many aspects of the defense.
### Why It Matters
Getting Love and Witherspoon back will change the complexion of Seattle’s defense entirely.
Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft, was one of the NFL’s most disruptive slot defenders in 2023. He finished with 16 pass breakups and 3 sacks and has maintained that strong production into 2024.
Love, meanwhile, led the team in interceptions and forced fumbles in 2024. He brings critical communication and leadership on the back end.
The Seahawks (5-2, 2nd in NFC West) will need both players as they prepare for a pivotal stretch that includes games against the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Rams. Seattle will especially need its full defense for late-season matchups against the Indianapolis Colts, the Rams again, and the San Francisco 49ers to close out the season.
Having a healthy secondary also allows Seattle to be more aggressive with blitz packages and tighter man-to-man coverage.
### What’s Next
Seattle returns from its bye week to face the Commanders in Week 9—a matchup that should serve as a test run for the unit’s restored lineup, depending on whether Jayden Daniels returns from a hamstring injury.
With depth players gaining valuable experience during the injury stretch, the Seahawks could soon field one of the NFL’s deepest and most dynamic secondaries.
If the first half of the season proved Seattle could survive without its stars, the second half could show just how dominant it can be with them back.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/big-seahawks-defensive-news/