Leonard

Williams

Williams missed last week due to a stinger and continues to be sidelined. He will need to practice in some fashion to have a chance at playing in Week 10 against the Raiders.

Apparently, Nelson was dealing with this knee issue when Seattle acquired for him, and he recently “aggravated it to some degree.” FOX 59’s Mike Chappell notes that Nelson was never listed on the Colts’ injury report this season. This is a bummer for the Seahawks, who acquired Nelson as a win-now move. Nelson will not play in Week 9 against the Cardinals, and the Seahawks also ruled out LT Charles Cross (ankle), DT Leonard Williams (stinger) and LB Uchenna Nwosu (ankle).

Williams suffered a stinger in Week 8 and was an estimated DNP for the Seahawks’ walkthrough practice on Wednesday. The veteran will need to practice in some capacity to have a chance to play in Week 9 against the Cardinals. If not, the Seahawks’ interior defensive line will be reinforced by Mike Morris, who notched his first career sack against the Bears in Week 8.

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.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was first on the news, followed by contract details from Ian Rapoport. Seattle acquired Williams from the Giants during the 2023 season. In his two full seasons as a Seahawk, Williams has totaled 18 regular season sacks plus one during the team’s postseason last year. He is now one of the five highest-paid defensive tackles on an annual basis. Williams will be under contract through the 2029 season.

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.