Four days before Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks appear to have a potential injury concern: rookie safety Nick Emanwori was limited in Wednesday’s practice with what the team described as an ankle issue. A PFWA pool report said Emanwori went down while defending a pass and walked off the field under the support of teammates and coaches.
Seahawks coach Mike McDonald told reporters they took Emanwori in for evaluation and would determine next steps after the checks. A standout rookie this season, Emanwori has been an important piece of Seattle’s run to its third Super Bowl since 2014. The 35th overall pick started 11 of 14 regular-season games and was a consistent playmaker, finishing the year with 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and contributions in the turnover and pass-defense columns that helped the team all season.
He also recovered a fumble in the divisional-round win over the San Francisco 49ers and even completed three passes during the Seahawks’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. Seattle does have veteran depth at the position in Tai Okada, but Emanwori’s ability to line up in multiple roles has been a key asset for the defense.
Four other Seahawks were limited in Wednesday’s session, including quarterback Sam Darnold, who has been working through an oblique issue suffered in practice on Jan. 15. McDonald said Darnold has been progressing on the team’s timeline and had a strong day at practice, keeping him “on schedule.”
Fan Take: Emanwori’s status matters because his presence—or absence—could materially affect Seattle’s defensive game plan and matchups in the Super Bowl, putting a premium on the team’s depth. More broadly, last-minute injury news like this underscores how fragile championship preparation can be and how vital roster flexibility is in the NFL.
