Seahawks suffer huge blow to playoff hopes with defensive star out for season

25 October 2023 , 14:04

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Pete Carroll has some work to do with his team after losing a key player

After a strong start to the season, the Seattle Seahawks have been dealt a cruel blow losing defensive star Uchenna Nwosu for the season.

Nwosu tore his pectoral muscle in the team's Week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals, with the 26-year-old set to go season-ending surgery.

The pass-rusher had amassed 10 sacks last season, his first year with the team after joining from the Los Angeles Chargers, before signing a three-year, £43 million ($53m) extension to remain in Seattle.

Nwosu had started this season strongly, with three sacks and five tackles for losses in the first six games, and he now set to miss the remainder of what Seattle will hope is a successful push for the play-offs.

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Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed the news in his latest media availability, when he said: "He's got a pec injury that's going to probably require surgery. That's what we're hearing right now."

Carroll added that the team are not currently looking to add another player after losing Nwosu. He said: "We're not thinking like that yet. We're going to try to absorb it.

"We've got to count on our rotation. We've had a rotation going the whole time and we'll just continue that.

"It challenges it, though. Chenna is a fantastic football player and a great team member, and such a tough guy and such a heady player and so consistent, always really physical, so he always sends the right message. We really will miss him."

Uchenna Nwosu is out for the season

The Seahawks have seen fellow pass-rusher Boye Mafe take a jump in his second season, having four sacks in his last four games for the team, while having Darrell Taylor and rookie Derick Hall ready to take Nwosu's place.

Despite Carroll's quotes, the team will almost certainly look to add a player eventually, with a number of options available to them.

Former Seahawks Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap are two pass-rushers who remain free agents, after playing key roles in the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl winning season. Clark has recently been linked with a return to the Chiefs, but has not signed as of yet.

The team are also likely consider options in the trade market, with the likes of Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers), Danielle Hunter (Minnesota Vikings), Chase Young and Montez Sweat (Washington Commanders) all said to be available heading into the trade deadline next week.

Charlie Wilson