Arroyo (shoulder) will have surgery, out for year

Arroyo’s career hasn’t really got off the ground with AJ Barner as the obvious No. 1 in the Seahawks tight end room. The 50th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft has just two targets this year and hasn’t been a fantasy factor yet.

No update yet on what was learned, and we may have to wait until next week’s first injury report to learn more. The Seahawks’ young tight end has faced multiple injuries in his short career. Hopefully, this one is not serious.

Arroyo was injured while trying to recover a Rashid Shaheed fumble in the second quarter and was promptly escorted to the locker room with trainers helping to stabilize his arm. It appeared to be a potential wrist or shoulder injury based on how the staff helped him off the field. The second-year tight end was not targeted prior to departing and appears to be on the wrong side of questionable to return to Week 6.

Up 24-7 on 4th-and-goal with just over three minutes left in the game, the Seahawks started a fresh set of downs from the Cardinals’ three-yard line. Both RB George Holani and RB Emanuel Wilson were given chances to punch it in before Seahawks OC Brian Fleury dialed up a Tush Push play for Barner on 4th-and-goal. Barner jumped up and across the line, bringing his fantasy stat line from something unusable to something we can live with. He remains a boom-bust TE1 against the Commanders next week. Seahawks TE2 Elijah Arroyo nabbed a 17-yard pass on a post route, but that was it for him. So far, the Seahawks’ reported uptick in usage for the tight end position has not panned out.

Destin notes that new Seahawks OC Brian Fleury served as the 49ers’ TE coach for four seasons “and is expected to feature the position prominently.” Aside from that, and an increase in shifts and motion, he thinks the offense is “going to look very similar” to last year. Barner underwent two offseason surgeries, one of which was to address a nagging ankle injury that Barner said he initially suffered during the 2024 Senior Bowl before the Seahawks drafted him. After turning in the PPR TE14 performance last season, Barner might have a shot to crack the position’s top 12.

Arroyo played three drives this evening, scoring from 36 yards out on the first one. Arroyo lined up in line on the left side, ran a route up the seam, shaking a safety along the way and easily hauled in the uncontested pass from tonight’s starting QB Drew Lock. Scoring against the Titans’ first-string defense is a plus, but playing while the rest of the Seahawks starters sat was not a great sign. Arroyo seems to be firmly behind TE AJ Barner on the depth chart right now.

Fowlers said the team expects Barner to be more involved as a pass catcher in 2026 after recording 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns last season (while being targeted on 19 percent of his routes). Barner, following multiple offseason surgeries to clean up nagging injuries, is fully healthy and ready for a more prominent role in Seattle’s offense. New Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, meanwhile, is expected to use plenty of two tight end sets in 2026, meaning TE Elijah Arroyo could see an increase in snaps and routes. Barner has a little bit of extra hidden upside as the Seahawks’ primary tush push option near the goal line.

That apparently includes in both pad-less and padded practices. Henderson does add the same was true last summer before the then No. 50 overall pick went on to have a quiet rookie year. Arroyo dealt with knee issues after they were a red flag during his pre-draft process. Drafted in part to be an after-the-catch weapon, Arroyo could be left fighting for designed touches to begin the season. He is comfortably behind AJ Barner on both the depth chart and in average draft position. We’ll let you know if he keeps lighting up camp.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald revealed on Wednesday that Arroyo was working through something, but was expected to be ready for training camp. Getting back early, even in a limited capacity, is good to see. Arroyo’s past few years, both in college and in his NFL rookie season, have been slowed by knee issues. Fellow backup TE Eric Saubert resumed practicing as well. Hopefully, both players are practicing fully before long.

Apparently, Arroyo and fellow TE Eric Saubert are not practicing this week. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said that “they’re just working through some stuff, but it’s positive for training camp.” Saubert is not expected to be fantasy-relevant, but this is a tad concerning for Arroyo, who entered the NFL as a 2025 rookie with injury-related concerns. Continued knee issues landed Arroyo on injured reserve last season. We hope to see him take the field at, or before, training camp next month.