By Bob Condotta Seattle Times
NASHVILLE – The Seahawks on Saturday placed receiver Jake Bobo on Injured Reserve, ending his 2026 season because of a knee injury suffered in Friday’s joint practice against the Tennessee Titans.
Bobo suffered what coach Mike Macdonald called a “serious” knee injury during a team session early in the practice.
Macdonald said the team would get Bobo’s knee imaged to confirm the initial diagnosis but added “it looks like it’s a long-term injury, so that’s unfortunate.”
Seattle re-signed receiver Julian Hicks, who was waived earlier this week, to fill Bobo’s spot on the 91-man roster and fill out depth at that position before a preseason game against the Titans here Sunday night at 5 p.m. Seattle time.
Going on IR before rosters are cut down to 53 means players must miss the entire season.
Bobo is now the fourth player Seattle has placed on season-ending IR along with fullback Robbie Ouzts, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles and linebacker Joseph Vaughn.
Bobo, a fourth-year player out of UCLA, has 34 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons with the Seahawks and also has been a key member of special teams.
He signed a two-year contract worth up to $5.5 million with $4.5 million guaranteed in the spring when the Seahawks matched an offer sheet Bobo had signed with Jacksonville as a restricted free agent.
Bobo going on IR and missing the season reinforces that the Seahawks now have some question marks at the back end of their receiving rotation.
Macdonald also said on Friday that second-year receiver Tory Horton is going to be “out for a period of time” as he deals with unspecified injuries.
It’s unclear exactly how long Horton will be out or the nature of his injuries, though he suffered a shin injury last season that ended his year midway through and required surgery.
But the pairing of news on Bobo and Horton means there suddenly may be more opportunity than expected for some of the Seahawks’ younger receivers to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
Three are obviously set – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed.
Unless Horton’s issues require him to go on IR to start the season (which means he’d have to miss four games), he’ll take the fourth spot.
But that could leave up to two more spots for a group that includes veteran Cody White, second-year player Montorie Foster Jr., second-year player Ricky White III and rookie Emmanuel Henderson Jr., probably in that order. Irv Charles, acquired in the off-season in a trade with the Jets for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2028, could also factor in if he gets healthy, but he’s missed significant time of late.
Foster appeared to suffer an injury right at the end of practice Friday, but Macdonald said all of the injuries other than Bobo’s were heat-related/cramping, indicating Foster should be good to go Sunday.
Cody White, now entering his seventh season, has been steady in camp and is a proven commodity on special teams, which probably gives him the edge for now, as the fifth receiver will be counted on to play special teams extensively.
Foster, an undrafted free agent a year ago out of Michigan State, has been the surprise of camp, rising steadily up the depth chart by consistently making plays in practice, and then doing so again in last week’s preseason opener with a team-high five receptions for 36 yards.
Foster unquestionably has a future with the Seahawks on the practice squad, at least. But the question could become if he plays too well for Seattle to be able to get him through waivers and possibly force Seattle to make a decision between White and Foster or carry six receivers on the roster.
Ricky White III and Emmanuel Henderson are also promising players who would seem likely to be re-signed to the practice squad.
Also potentially factoring in is undrafted rookie free agent Rashad Rochelle out of Indiana State. Rochelle opened some eyes with a 52-yard punt return in the preseason opener against Dallas that was one of Seattle’s few highlights in an eventual 17-7 loss.
For now, Cody White and Montorie Foster Jr., appear the pretty clear leaders of that group.
Regardless, Seattle now doesn’t have much proven depth at receiver beyond its top four which could compel the team to see what may be available via waiver pickups or trades over the next week as teams begin to make decisions about their 53-man rosters.
The injury to the popular Bobo cast a pall over the team’s joint practice and four-day trip to Nashville.
“I’m just praying for Jake,” said safety Ty Okada. “He’s nothing but just a great player and a great person. My prayers go out to him. All of our teammates are going to have Jake’s back, and we always want nothing but the best for all of our guys. We just pray for him to have a healthy recovery.”