The Seattle Seahawks might not have expected edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu to return until early in the 2025 season. Now, he has been medically cleared and could return soon, though exactly when is still unknown. He hasn't practiced, though he has run through non-contact drills.
It could be that Nwosu isn't going to step on the field for a while yet in a real game, but maybe the versatile edge rusher will be ready by Week 1. The Seahawks are surely not going to be open about the situation.
But the timing of Nwosu doing drills is interesting. On the same day, 12s learned he had been medically cleared, reports surfaced that the Cincinnati Bengals were open to shopping edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Seattle was not among the teams mentioned as far as reaching out to Cincy, but that doesn't mean Seattle hasn't.
Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu medically cleared to play, but might it mean more?
But what could Seattle offer, despite a likely first-round pick in return for Hendrickson? The Bengals have a great quarterback and a great offense. If their defense is remotely decent, Cincy is going to win a lot of games. If Cincinnati gives up Hendrickson, they need quality in return.
Uchenna Nwosu, when healthy (and that has been rare the last couple of seasons), is a quality player. He is also a next-level human being and would be great to have in the Bengals locker room. If the team does trade Hendrickson, the culture shifts, and players will ask why the move needed to be done. Nwosu can help remedy any issues.
#Seahawks announce LB Uchenna Nwosu has passed a physical exam, the next step in his return to practice coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list. He was doing this today on the side with assistants at practice. @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/H9g8YO4bw0
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 17, 2025
Of course, likely Nwosu being medically cleared has nothing to do with Trey Hendrickson. Perhaps, if Cincinnati and Seattle were trying to work out a deal, the Bengals would want one of the Seahawks' younger edge rushers, such as Boye Mafe or Derick Hall.
Acquiring Hendrickson would change a lot of the doubts of NFL pundits in how they view Seattle, even if Mafe, Nwosu, or Hall is dealt to Cincinnati. Of course, doubts are one thing and winning games is another. Having Trey Hendrickson would make the Seattle Seahawks better, though.
For one thing, as opposed to Nwosu, Hendrickson can be counted on to show up every game. Opponents will be forced to game-plan for him far more than they do Nwosu. That would free up the rest of Seattle's talented defense.
Most likely, though, Uchenna Nwosu will practice some before the season, miss the first game or three, and be with the Seahawks for the remainder of the season. Hendrickson will probably stay with the Bengals. Or maybe not.