Seahawks DBs Witherspoon, Emmanwori could return this week
Sep 15, 2025, 2:06 PM
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Monday that cornerback Devon Witherspoon and rookie safety Nick Emmanwori both have a chance to return for next Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
Both players were sidelined with injuries for Seattle’s 31-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
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Witherspoon was out with a knee injury that he suffered in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers. After being listed as doubtful on Friday, the two-time All-Pro reportedly went through a pregame workout on Sunday, but was designated among the Seahawks’ inactives.
“If he could have played, he definitely would have,” Macdonald said. I know he really wants to be out there. … It became clear probably on Saturday that, unless he took a turn on Sunday, which wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, then he probably wouldn’t go. So when he went out there and worked out, it just didn’t turn.”
Asked whether there’s a possibility Witherspoon could return for the Saints game, Macdonald said, “Yeah, I think so. … Hopefully he’ll practice at some point (this week). But I think he’s probably still a guy that you could take all the way to the game.”
Emmanwori suffered a high-ankle sprain on the opening defensive series against the 49ers and was ruled out of the Steelers game this past Friday.
But after indicating earlier last week that the team was considering placing Emmanwori on injured reserve, Macdonald said Friday that the Seahawks have decided against that for the time being. Players on IR are required to miss at least four games, so that decision signaled that Seattle believed he could return before then.
“Incredibly good news,” Macdonald said about Emmanwori avoiding an IR stint. “Another guy that we’d like to see practice before (playing in a game), especially being a rookie. So we’ll see. We’ll see if he’s ready on Wednesday or possibly Thursday to get some reps.”
Listen to the full Brock and Salk conversation with Mike Macdonald at this link or in the audio player near the bottom of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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