The Seattle Seahawks will be shorthanded at a keynote position in Wednesday's 2026 NFL season opener with the New England Patriots in Week 1. The Seahawks are expected to be without starting safeties Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada due to injury. Head coach Mike Macdonald will see his depth at safety tested immediately.
Okada has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He did not practice this week and was promptly ruled OUT. Emmanwori is listed as questionable. Emmanwori hasn't practiced in a full capacity since the team's minicamp in June, after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery in July.
Veteran Julian Love is the only healthy safety on Macdonald's 53-man active roster heading into Wednesday's Super Bowl LX rematch. Veterans Rodney Thomas II and
D'Anthony Bell are both on the practice squad. Expect both safeties to be elevated from the practice squad to suit up.
Both Thomas and Bell have some experience. Thomas previously started for the Indianapolis Colts. Bell was a starting safety for the Cleveland Browns. The expectation is one of them will play next to Love in the other traditional safety role.
Without Emmanwori available, Macdonald must decide who plays nickel/big slot in his absence. Is Trevon Diggs ready for that role? Does Coach Macdonald trust Nehemiah Pritchett in that role?
Difficult decisions will be made.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks' safety depth will immediately be tested in Week 1
