How much does Rashid Shaheed injury hurt Seattle Seahawks?

The Seattle Seahawks played much better in the second half on Sunday, as they outscored the Carolina Panthers 24-7 after halftime in their 27-10 victory.

One thing for Seattle didn’t feel as potent in the second half, though.

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“Special teams do not hit the same if Rashid is not in that game, man,” Michael Bumpus said, referring to Pro Bowl return man Rashid Shaheed, on Monday’s edition of Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports.

The 27-year-old Shaheed suffered a concussion in the first half, leaving Seattle to turn to running back Cam Akers to return kicks for the rest of the game. It also puts Shaheed’s availability in doubt for Saturday’s huge regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers that will decide the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed from the NFC in the playoffs.

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Shaheed, who was a big acquisition by the Seahawks last month just before the NFL trade deadline, has been perhaps the best returner in football since the trade from New Orleans. He has 180 yards and a touchdown on 11 punt returns plus 384 yards and a touchdown on 14 kick returns in eight games with Seattle.

The presence of Shaheed has breathed new life into the Seahawks’ special teams.

“It’s not like we took (Shaheed) for granted, but we’re just a bit spoiled,” Bumpus said. “It’s so fun having them back there and feeling the potential of a return going to the house. No disrespect to Cam Akers… I think it’s safe to say that (Shaheed) is the best returner in the game. And when you have a guy back there, as we run a special teams unit that you feel can take it to the house, it’s not like you play a little harder, but it just feels different. Your angles are different. You feel like every play can be a home run.”

The injury to Shaheed has Bumpus, a former wide receiver and return man for the Seahawks and WSU Cougars, lowering his expectations in the return game.

“As soon as he was out and whoever was returning, it just didn’t feel the same. It felt like, alright, just possess the football and let’s get the offense out there. When he’s back there, I’m literally looking for lanes for him to go to the house every single time. I doubt that he passes concussion protocol and plays on Saturday. That’d be unfortunate, but he’s special, man. And I think that whoever has to replace him, possession is all we need at this point. Just possess the football. Don’t turn it over.”

What about on offense?

While Shaheed has been a big boost for Seattle’s special teams, he hasn’t been as noticeable as a wide receiver in Seattle’s offense. He has 186 yards on 14 catches in his eight games with the Seahawks, and most of that production came in a two-game stretch in early December against the Atlanta Falcons (four catches, 67 yards) and Indianapolis Colts (five catches, 74 yards). Shaheed has just one catch for eight yards over his last two games combined.

“Are you still kind of hoping for him to be even more integrated into the offense?” co-host Stacy Rost asked Bumpus.

“Yeah, I am,” Bumpus responded. “I think because of what he can do with the football on his hands, you’ve got to find ways to get him football. Put him on some of those crossing routes you put JSN (wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba) on. He’s run some of them, you’ve got to find him. Go ahead and take the top off with some double moves. He should be the double-move guy when it comes to taking those shots.”

Michael Bumpus answers four football questions during the Four Down Territory segment at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. during each edition of Bump and Stacy. Catch Bump and Stacy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

How much does Rashid Shaheed injury hurt Seattle Seahawks?

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