RENTON — Exactly who will play where in the Seahawks’ secondary Sunday when they take on Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and the Pittsburgh Steelers is increasingly uncertain.
Starting cornerback Devon Witherspoon missed a second consecutive day of practice with a knee injury, creating even more doubt that he will be available.
The Seahawks reinforced that thought by signing veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin off the practice squad to the active roster to add depth.
They released receiver Cody White off the 53-man roster to make room for Griffin and re-signed White to the practice squad.
Two of the Seahawks’ top three safeties also sat out practice — veteran starter Julian Love and rookie Nick Emmanwori.
Related More Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba appears to have a reception over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green but would drop the ball during the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 in Seattle. 231024
With DK Metcalf reunion on deck, Seahawks seem to have talent problem | Vorel
How Seahawks hope to show vs. Steelers they don’t miss DK Metcalf
Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers will be Seahawks’ biggest problem Sunday | Calkins
Love was listed as limited Wednesday with a groin injury but downgraded to out Thursday. Whether that’s a sign he suffered the injury in practice Wednesday or had a setback in a recovery from a previous injury or just getting a rest day is unclear.
There were no further details on injuries as coach Mike Macdonald does not speak to the media on Thursdays.
More clarity will come Friday when the team has to release a game-status report — declaring players as either out, doubtful or questionable or having no listing at all, meaning they will play. Macdonald will talk to the media following Friday’s practice.
Starting defensive tackle Jarran Reed also sat out with a back injury.
Griffin’s signing gives the Seahawks six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster.
If Witherspoon can’t play, the Seahawks would have five, a number that includes second-year corner Nehemiah Pritchett, who played just 151 snaps last season, and Derion Kendrick, who was claimed off waivers from the Rams following the preseason. He sat out last season with a knee injury.
If Witherspoon is out, Griffin could become the third corner Sunday behind Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen.
That assumes Woolen would remain a starter — he and Witherspoon played every snap in Sunday’s 17-13 loss to the 49ers with Jobe playing regularly in nickel packages.
Macdonald said Wednesday “we’ll see” when asked if Woolen will start Sunday.
That comment was made before it was known that Witherspoon would not practice because of a knee injury he appeared to suffer midway through the fourth quarter Sunday.
If Witherspoon is out, Woolen would seem like he’d start unless the Seahawks went with Griffin, Kendrick or Pritchett along with Jobe.
Witherspoon, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft, played all 17 games last season after missing three games as a rookie (one game because of a hamstring injury and two with a back injury).
Emmanwori sitting out was not a surprise as it is not expected he will play against the Steelers after suffering a high ankle sprain on the first series of Sunday’s loss to the 49ers.
The Seahawks have left him on the 53-man roster instead of placing him on injured reserve to assess how serious his injury is and hope that he may not have to miss the four games that would be required by an IR stint.
The Seahawks could place him on the IR by Saturday and fill that role with one of two veteran safeties who are on the practice squad — Jerrick Reed II or D’Anthony Bell.
Most Read Sports Stories
Love’s situation is harder to read.
Suffice it to say that not having Love — who is the steadying force in the back end — would make facing the Steelers that much more challenging.
The Seahawks have only four safeties on the 53-man roster — Love, Emmanwori, starter Coby Bryant and Ty Okada.
Okada took over Emmanwori’s role Sunday in a three-safety package the Seahawks planned to use regularly against the 49ers. That was largely scrapped after a few plays and the Seahawks went with a nickel, or three-cornerback, alignment for the rest of the game.
They could elevate Bell and/or Reed from the practice squad to help fill in for Love, if needed, or serve as a third safety in place of Emmanwori.
Teams can elevate only two players from the practice squad each week. That could be one reason the Seahawks made the move to add Griffin to the 53-man roster, allowing them to use the two practice squad elevations for other positions.
Love was scheduled to speak to the media before Thursday’s practice. Bryant filled in for him and said he’s confident that whatever alignment the team fields Sunday can get the job done.
“Like I said, whoever is up, just having the next man mentality,” Bryant said. “We have to go out there, play football, have fun. As long as we’re all on the same page, we’ll be good.”
Macdonald’s comment on Woolen, which came in the wake of Woolen allowing two completions that keyed San Francisco’s game-winning drive, including the TD that capped it, helped fuel speculation about his role Sunday and long-term future.
“He didn’t come out there to give up those plays,” defensive coordinator Aden Durde said after Thursday’s practice. “I think at times like that you’ve got to really just look at your focus, just make sure in the moment we’re ready. And that’s why we practice. … We’ve got to go back, we’ve got to fix it, we’ve got to go to work. We’re a team, and that’s how it works.”
Receivers Bobo, Young full participants
One reason the Seahawks could move White to the practice squad is that receivers Jake Bobo and Dareke Young — who missed the opener with injuries — appear on track to return.
Bobo, who sat out with a concussion, was listed as a full participant Wednesday and not given a designation of any kind Thursday while Young (hamstring) was also a full participant.
That gives the Seahawks five healthy receivers, with those two backing up Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton.
White played just five snaps against the 49ers as a receiver and handled two kickoff returns for 59 yards. White could be elevated off the practice squad to handle returns.
Young is listed as a kickoff returner along with George Holani, and Horton could also be an option if they need to use the practice squad elevations on other positions.
Jones, Nwosu full participants
The injury news was better for two other key defenders — starting middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV and outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu.
Jones was listed as limited Wednesday with a shoulder injury but was a full participant Thursday, while Nwosu was again listed as a full participant for the second straight day. That seems to indicate Nwosu will make his season debut after he sat out against the 49ers while still on the mend from offseason knee surgery.
Seahawks tight-lipped on Metcalf
While the reunion of Metcalf and the Seahawks is an inevitable storyline this week, it isn’t one either side appears to be anxious to add much additional fuel.
Asked Thursday about the prospect of facing Metcalf, Bryant said only: “I mean, we’re just excited to go out there and compete. It doesn’t matter who it is, man. We’re just excited.”
Bob Condotta: bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Bob Condotta is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times who primarily covers the Seahawks but also dabbles in other sports. He has worked at The Times since 2002, reporting on University of Washington Husky football and basketball for his first 10 years at the paper before switching to the Seahawks in 2013.