Leonard Williams nearing a three-year extension

The Seahawks will have their stud interior defender on hand against the division-rival 49ers. They will be without backup CB Julian Neal (hamstring), who suffered an injury in practice.

According to Seahawks beat writer Corbin Smith, the team converted $18.745 million of Williams’ 2025 salary into a bonus while tacking on two void years to the end of his deal. The move freed up just over $14 million in cap space for the Seahawks, who will still need to make additional moves to get under the cap before the start of next season. Williams is coming off one of his best years as a pro after totaling 64 tackles, 11 sacks, and a career-high 16 TFLs in 2024.

Williams popped up on the practice report with a new foot injury, listed as a non-participant for Wednesday. He has 2.5 sacks starting eight games on the Seahawks’ defensive line this season. LB Boye Mafe (knee) was limited in practice as the Seahawks get out of the bye trying to get their defense healthy.

Seahawks S Julian Love (thigh) is also questionable, though multiple defenders appear ready to return. LB Jerome Baker (hamstring), LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee), EDGE Leonard Williams (ribs) and LB Derick Hall (hip) enter the game without injury designations.

Williams is one of five Seahawks front-seven defenders who have been unable to practice on both Thursday and Friday this week. The Seahawks play on Monday night. Rookie DT Byron Murphy II (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks and LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee) has yet to take a regular season snap, although he was spotted wearing pads on Wednesday, before the official practice week began. LB Jerome Baker (hamstring) and LB Boye Mafe (knee) also remain sidelined.

Mafe led a lengthy injury report for the Seahawks front seven. He was a new addition with a knee injury and would be a crucial missing part after starting the season with two sacks in two games. LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee) remains out with an MCL sprain while LB Jerome Baker (hamstring) and DE Leonard Williams (knee) also did not participate in practice. The good news is that LB Derick Hall (hip) was limited and LB Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) and DT Jarran Reed (knee) were full participants. It is still early in the week, but Mike Macdonald’s defense hopes to get back key contributors before Week 3 against the Dolphins.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth $21.5 million per year. Williams was the Seahawks’ big move at the trade deadline. Though the team fell just short of making the playoffs, it wasn’t because the move didn’t work out. Williams racked up four sacks and nine TFLs in 10 games with the Seahawks. Those are solid numbers for any player, let alone an interior pass-rusher. Having already invested a second and a fifth-round pick to acquire Williams, there was no way the Seahawks were letting him walk in free agency just a few months later. He will now return to Seattle with defensive guru Mike Macdonald as his head coach.

Williams was acquired by Seattle at the trade deadline, playing in five games for the Seahawks. He was listed with a new ankle injury on Wednesday, not practicing to start the week. LB Jordyn Brooks (ankle), who left Week 13 early, also did not participate. Both Williams and Brooks are major contributors to the Seahawks defense and nursing ankle issues that could keep them out for Week 14 against the 49ers.

Williams was acquired from the Giants on Tuesday, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll says he expects Williams to be on the field for Seattle on Sunday. Williams has tallied 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks through seven games this season and is a strong run stuffer, which will be useful against Baltimore, even if he doesn’t play his full complement of snaps.

This marks the first significant trade with the trade deadline looming, and also sets the market for other defensive linemen who may be on the move over the next 24 hours. The 5-2 Seahawks lead the NFC West and now bolster a defensive line that’s helped limit opponents to 96.9 rush yards per game. Williams is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and has tallied 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks through seven games this season. According to Rapoport, the Giants will “take on a large portion” of Williams’ contract in exchange for better draft pick compensation.