Seahawks outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu finally had a memorable day Thursday after what has largely been a difficult year.
As Nwosu stepped onto the stage at the VMAC auditorium to discuss being named the Seahawks’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, recognizing his charitable work, the team announced he had been activated from injured reserve.
This makes Nwosu eligible to play in Sunday’s critical NFC West matchup against Arizona.
It will be only his second game this season and his first since Oct. 22, 2023. He hopes the combined good news signals a positive end to an otherwise challenging year.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Nwosu said. “(Sitting out is) giving me more time to think about things that I want to do more, even though of course my mind’s still on football, always will be.
But, when you have that extra time, you can think about things you want to do for the community.
That’s just what I’ve been trying to use to distract myself a little bit, not think so much of the injuries and be down on myself. Just use this time to give back to the community and make myself feel better.”
Nwosu’s struggles began with a torn pectoral muscle against Arizona last year, which sidelined him for the final 11 games of the 2023 season.
After recovering fully, he was designated to start a few series in the preseason finale against Cleveland on Aug. 24.
However, on the fourth play, Cleveland guard Wyatt Teller blocked him at the knees, drawing a flag for an illegal chop block.
The play came immediately after Nwosu had been called for roughing quarterback Jameis Winston.
Nwosu had to be helped off the field and was later diagnosed with a sprained MCL, causing him to miss the first four games of the season.
At the time, head coach Mike Macdonald refrained from labeling the play dirty, but Nwosu was more direct.
“I thought it was dirty, straight up,” Nwosu said Thursday. “I didn’t like it. It’s preseason.
We were going to be there like two drives. But, it’s football. I get it, it’s football at the end of the day. But, it was definitely a dirty play.”
Nwosu returned to play on Oct. 6 against the Giants but lasted only 20 snaps before suffering what was initially reported as a thigh injury. On Thursday, he revealed the true extent of the issue.
“I actually had tore my quad in my left quad,” Nwosu said. “That’s what I was dealing with.
Talking to doctors, no surgery was needed. I rehabbed and I feel ready to go.”
The injury sidelined him for seven games. After resuming practice last week without setbacks, he is now ready to contribute.
Nwosu aims to boost Seattle’s pass rush, having led the team with 9.5 sacks in 2022.
“I’m preparing to be able to play (Sunday),” he said. “You never know how the game goes. It’s football, you can be on a 12-play drive.
You never know. I’m just trying to get my body as ready to go and play as many plays as I need to be.”
Unlike last year, when he stayed home after his pectoral injury, Nwosu chose to travel with the team this season to maintain his leadership role.
“This year, I didn’t want to abandon the team,” he said.
“I wanted to be around those guys, keep being the leader that I am, keep being a coach pretty much out there on the sideline, helping guys figure out how to beat certain blocks or how to play certain things that they’re getting.”
As part of his nomination for the Man of the Year Award, the Seahawks highlighted Nwosu’s charitable contributions.
These include rebuilding roads and restoring electricity in his father’s Nigerian village and funding a permanent athletic trainer and a training facility at his high school, Narbonne High in Los Angeles.
Nwosu, who was also nominated for the award during his time with the Chargers (2018-2021), expressed gratitude.
“To be able to be recognized for everything that I’m doing is great, but still a lot of work to be done and just want to keep it going,” he said.
“But, definitely thankful, grateful, and just keep it going.”
Metcalf, Williams, Walker sit out practice
Three key players—receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder), defensive lineman Leonard Williams (knee), and running back Kenneth Walker III (ankle/calf)—did not practice Thursday, though it may be precautionary.
Metcalf also missed two practices last week with the same injury.
On Wednesday, he downplayed concerns, joking, “What shoulder?”
Williams has skipped most practices the past two weeks but played in games, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Jets.
Running backs like Walker often sit out practices this time of year. Both Metcalf and Walker practiced Wednesday in a limited capacity.
Other injury updates include defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (rest day), punter Michael Dickson (back), and tight end Brady Russell (foot), who were listed as limited.
Special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh remains optimistic Dickson will play Sunday.
“Yeah, we are hopeful of that,” Harbaugh said. “It does seem like that (he will).”
Notably, right tackle Abe Lucas, who sat out Wednesday to manage his surgically repaired knee, practiced fully Thursday, as did right tackle Stone Forsythe, who recently returned to practice after a hand injury and is eligible to play anytime.
