For the opening drive of Sunday’s eventual loss to the Vikings, Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen wasn’t on the field.
After the game, coach Mike Macdonald explained that Woolen was benched for violating an unspecified rule.
“That was just a team rule thing,” Macdonald said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. “We made it right and that’s what we decided to do, what was best for the team, and we’ll move forward.”
Woolen was replaced in the starting lineup by Josh Jobe, an undrafted rookie in 2022 who was promoted to the Seattle active roster last month. On the drive Woolen missed, the Vikings drove 70 yards on 12 plays for a touchdown.
During the postgame media availability, Woolen tested the limits of a league rule by refusing to answer questions from the media, with a single exception. That one media member did not ask Woolen about the benching.
The team-rule violation might have flowed from Woolen’s reaction to public criticism from Macdonald after a not-great performance in a home loss to the Packers.
Macdonald said at the time that it “wasn’t Riq’s best game,” and that he needs to have better focus on each and every play.
"[T]here are just a couple of plays right now per game where we want more from him, and he knows that,” Macdonald said after the Week 15 contest. “He’s the first one to tell you.”
“I don’t give a shit anymore,” Woolen said in response. “I really don’t care. I mean, when you do good, they gonna love you. When you do bad, they gonna talk about you.”
Woolen was in on the game-deciding play against the Vikings. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson got past double coverage from Woolen underneath and safety Julian Love over the top. Love simply didn’t get over in time to disrupt the 39-yard touchdown reception.
The Seahawks closed out Sunday’s loss to the Vikings without running back Kenneth Walker III on the field and they don’t know if he’ll be able to go in Week 17 at this point.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters that Walker is going to get imaging done on his ankle after leaving the 28-24 loss in the fourth quarter. Macdonald said he did not have any word about the extent of the injury.
The Seahawks are still alive in the playoff race and will try to help their chances with a in Chicago on Thursday night.
Walker has been dealing with a calf injury in recent weeks as well.
Walker ran eight times for 31 yards and caught eight passes for 28 yards before being forced out of the game.
It took until the last minute, but the Vikings have kept pace with the Lions in the NFC North.
Minnesota defeated Seattle 27-24 on Sunday afternoon, making the Vikings 13-2 on the season.
The two teams went back and forth in the final quarter, with Seattle taking a 24-20 lead with 4:21 left in the contest on Geno Smith’s 4-yard touchdown to tight end AJ Barner.
But Minnesota needed only 30 seconds to regain the lead for good, as Sam Darnold connected with receiver Justin Jefferson deep down the left sideline for a 39-yard touchdown.
Jefferson finished the contest with 10 catches for a season-high 144 yards with two TDs.
Seattle had two more chances, but couldn’t tie the game. Faced with no great options, head coach Mike Macdonald elected to try a 60-yard field goal on fourth-and-15 from the Minnesota 42. But Jason Myers’ try fell short, despite being on target.
After the Seahawks recorded a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, the Seahawks got the ball back with 55 seconds left on their own 17-yard line. But with a false start pushing Seattle 5-yards back, Smith effectively ended the game with his second interception of the day. Theo Jackson picked off the pass intended for DK Metcalf.
Smith finished 31-of-43 passing for 314 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led with eight catches for 95 yards with a TD.
Darnold was 22-of-35 for 246 yards with three touchdowns and no picks. Jordan Addison caught five passes for 35 yards with a touchdown.
Now at 13-2, the Vikings have kept pace with the 13-2 Lions with just two weeks left. Minnesota faces Green Bay at home next week before taking on Detroit in Week 18.
At 8-7, it’s a costly loss for the Seahawks, who have now fallen a game behind the Rams in the NFC West. Seattle will be on the road to face Chicago on Thursday night in Week 17.
Geno Smith is cooking in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup between the Seahawks and Vikings.
Smith connected with rookie tight end AJ Barner in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 24-20 lead.
The score capped an 11-play, 68-yard drive that took 6:16 off the clock.
Smith has now completed 28-of-38 passes for 280 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
But the Seahawks have another injury issue at running back, as Kenneth Walker had to come off and is doubtful to return with an ankle injury.
The Vikings and Seahawks are both looking to keep pace with division leaders who won earlier on Sunday, and the two teams put together an entertaining first half in Week 16.
Minnesota has a 17-14 lead over Seattle at halftime.
The Seahawks were able to score on a two-minute drive to cut the Vikings’ lead to just three points. Geno Smith tossed some darts to both DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the possession, with Smith-Njigba catching an 18-yard touchdown.
Metcalf ended the first half with three catches for 57 yards with a touchdown — his first since October.
Smith-Njigba has three receptions for 56 yards. He’s now eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his young career.
Smith ended the half 13-of-17 for 169 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The pick led to Will Reichard’s 52-yard field goal late in the second quarter.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold opened the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown to Jordan Addison and connected with Justin Jefferson for a 14-yard TD midway through the second quarter.
Darnold is 14-of-21 for 128 yards with two TDs. Jefferson has five catches for 52 yards and Addison four receptions for 33 yards.
Seattle will have a chance to double up, as the club will receive the second-half kickoff.
