Turns out, his coach’s initial optimism on Nick Emmanwori is not warranted.
Mike Macdonald said Monday afternoon further medical tests the day after the rookie safety injured his ankle on the fifth defensive play of the Seahawks’ opening-game loss to San Francisco revealed ligament damage. It could sideline a dynamic, key piece to Seattle’s defense beyond its game Sunday at Pittsburgh (1-0).
Emmanwori could miss at least four weeks.
“It is a high-ankle for Nick,” Macdonald said. That is the type of sprain higher up the leg that has a longer recovery time than a standard, lower sprain.
When will the Seahawks have Emmanwori back as a player Macdonald moves from safety to outside linebacker to inside backer around his defense?
“Let’s call it week-to-week at this point,” Macdonald said.
He said injured reserve is “under consideration.” That would mean the second-round draft choice from South Carolina the Seahawks traded up 17 spots to get would miss at least four weeks.
“If we make a move, it would be in the next day or two,” Macdonald said, “because we have to decide whether or not to make a move on that front.”
Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) reacts to a tackle on San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) during the first quarter of the game at Lumen Field, on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle.
Emmanwori got hurt on his fourth NFL snap, early in the Seahawks’ 17-13 loss to the 49ers at Lumen Field Sunday.
He was lined up off the left defensive edge, as something of an outside linebacker, in one of the many ways Macdonald intends to use him this season. When the receiver opposite him went in pre-snap motion away, Emmanwori moved up. At the snap he ran unblocked into the backfield, off the right edge of San Francisco’s offensive formation. Emmanwori dropped 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey for a 2-yard loss for his first pro tackle.
Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) tackles San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) during the first quarter of the game at Lumen Field, on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle.
As Emmanwori made the tackle, teammate DeMarcus Lawrence fell on the rookie’s lower leg. That twisted Emmanwori’s ankle under him. He stayed down injured. He limped then tried to jog off the field to the sideline and the blue medical tent behind the bench.
He stayed there for a while, then walked into the locker room as San Francisco marched to the game’s opening score without him.
Emmanwori ran better out of the locker room back to the sideline later in the first half than he moved into it. He was on the kickoff unit that ran down the field following Seattle’s tying touchdown early in the second quarter.
Then he talked to coaches and team medical personnel. He stood on the sidelines the remainder of the game with his pads still on but without his helmet.
Plan change
Emmanwori missing any amount of games means the Seahawks are likely to use Josh Jobe more as the nickel cornerback, beginning Sunday against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
In the four snaps Emmanwori got in his NFL debut, he was aligned as a rushing outside linebacker, a coverage outside linebacker and, once, one of two off-ball linebackers next to middle backer Ernest Jones. It was a glimpse of the varied ways Macdonald will use his rookie “safety” this season.
Reserve safety Ty Okada replaced Emmanwori after he was injured. At first, Macdonald tried to stay with his game plan of his fifth, extra defensive back being bigger to defend against McCaffrey and San Francisco’s run.
Niners play caller Kyle Shanahan countered by throwing at Okada when he came on the field. The first time was Brock Purdy throwing to wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for a first down. The second time All-Pro George Kittle caught a 5-yard touchdown pass outside past Okada. It was a schematic mismatch.
Macdonald had quickly seen enough. The rest of the game, Seattle’s defensive play caller went mostly to a more conventional nickel arrangement. Okada played only six of 76 defensive snaps. Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon (100% of plays, as usual) moved inside to the slot and Jobe outside as the extra DB. Jobe ended up playing 80% of the snaps Sunday, and brilliantly. He made three big plays in the second half, including a leaping interception of Purdy at midfield.
With Seattle leading 13-10 with 3 minutes left, Jobe had a strong tackle of McCaffrey one on one in the open field. That limited him to a 1-yard gain. It would have been a huge gain had the bullish running back gotten past Jobe.
On the next play, Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen inexplicably stopped while running deep down the left sideline with Pearsall as Purdy’s pass arrived. Pearsall kept running past him for a 40-yard catch that set up the winning touchdown.
“I’ve just got to track the ball better,” Woolen said.
More Josh Jobe?
Playing Jobe 80% of the snaps with Witherspoon inside as the nickel was not the coach’s plan against San Francisco. Witherspoon weighs a listed 185 pounds, maybe. Emmanwori is 220.
“We played the game lighter than we normally play against them,” Macdonald said of the Niners, who won for the seventh time in eight meetings of NFC West rivals.
But playing Jobe 80% of the time might be Macdonald’s plan against the Steelers. The coach was raving about Jobe’s game the day after it.
“Josh was ready to go,” Macdonald said.
“He’s competing for more snaps.
“And I thought he played a tremendous football game. He played physical, played smart, played disciplined, and finished his plays right. I thought he played a great game.”
Could Jobe take playing time away from Woolen at starting right outside cornerback opposite Witherspoon in base defense?
“At corner on either side,” Macdonald said.
“You go out and you produce, why would we not play you?”
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) reacts to a 35-yard interception return during the second quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Lumen Field, on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 in Seattle, Wash.
Riq Woolen’s eventful final quarter
Woolen had an uneven, to say the least, first game of his contract season.
The Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2022 under the regime of former coach Pete Carroll raced over from the middle of the end zone to the side to bat away a pass by Purdy to open Pearsall at the goal line. It would have been a go-ahead touchdown for the Niners early in the third quarter. San Francisco settled for a field goal that briefly tied the game at 10.
But then Woolen stopped on Pearsall’s 40-yard catch later in the final period. The Niners’ score that proved to be the winning touchdown with 94 seconds remaining came when Woolen did not react to third-string tight end Jake Tonges, 6 feet 4, running back to Purdy’s shot-put pass in the end zone and leaping over the 6-4 Woolen for the touchdown catch.
“I really believe Riq was trying to attack the football,” Macdonald said Monday. “We would have all loved him to make the play. I guarantee Riq is the number one person that he wishes that he made the play, too. And he’s made plays like that.”””
“I’m thinking of the Rams game last year in the 2-minute drill, and the first game last year (September 2024 against) Denver when he made the play on the over route. He’s made some tremendous plays for us. Made a great play on the red zone and on the goal line.
“Unfortunately, the two plays that he wants back are the ones near the end of the game. One is a technique thing, and I think the other thing is about putting yourself in a better body position where you make the play and not the other guy. “But the other guy made a great play, too.”
Cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin (24) and Riq Woolen (27) sign autographs for fans following the second practice of Seattle Seahawks NFL training camp Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton.