The Seattle Seahawks enter Wednesday’s season opener against the New England Patriots with a thinning secondary and a starter whose status has grown increasingly uncertain.
Safety Ty Okada sat out a second consecutive practice on Monday while dealing with a hamstring injury, leaving little time for him to recover before the team travels to face Drake Maye and the Patriots.
Okada’s absence would be felt. Last season, he developed from a rotational piece into a reliable starter, appearing in 11 games after injuries and the departure of Coby Bryant to Chicago.
He finished with 65 tackles, an interception and a sack and a half, enough production to give the front office confidence it could move on from Bryant in free agency. Without him, Seattle’s safety room looks thin at a moment when the regular season is about to begin.
Nick Emmanwori remains another question mark. Still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, the young safety was only a limited participant Monday and is not considered a lock to play. The combination of those two injuries has already prompted roster movement.
The Seahawks recently brought D’Anthony Bell back to the practice squad after he appeared in multiple games last year, and veteran Rodney Thomas II is also available. Both could be elevated if the team needs extra bodies at the position.
Head coach Mike Macdonald will have to adjust his approach if Okada cannot go. Maye has one of the stronger deep balls in the league, so Seattle will need its pass rush to keep the Patriots from launching shots downfield.
A thinner secondary could also limit how often Macdonald can send Devon Witherspoon on the kind of aggressive blitzes that worked in the Super Bowl. The “next man up” culture that has defined the franchise since the Pete Carroll years will be tested immediately.
Seattle has long referred to its practice squad as the “ready squad,” and Macdonald will expect Bell or Thomas, if called upon, to be prepared.
Not every injury update was grim. Offensive lineman Anthony Bradford practiced in full, as did tight end A.J. Barner, safety Julian Neal and running back Emanuel Wilson.
Wide receiver Tory Horton and offensive lineman Josh Jones were limited, leaving their availability for opening night still unclear.
Those developments offer some relief on offense, but the defensive backfield remains the most pressing concern as the Seahawks prepare for a short-week start against a Patriots team that will look to exploit any softness in coverage.
