3 Seahawks in danger of losing their roster spots after Week 1

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos in Week 1 26-20 to get the Mike Macdonald era off to a great start. Seattle certainly started slowly offensively but was better in the second half when running back Kenneth Walker III began getting the ball more. The Seahawks defense was excellent throughout the game.

One player not on the list below is quarterback Geno Smith. Some persons on social media appear to think that Smith's interception on Seattle's second play of the game was the quarterback's fault even though he got hit low as he threw. The issue was the offensive line was extraordinarily bad to begin the game so Seattle could get nothing going on offense.

One of those offensive linemen is below. He wasn't good last year and doesn't appear to be ready this season either. The others are two rookies who might have just had first-game jitters.

Three Seattle Seahawks players who should be nervous about their jobs after Week 1

Right guard Anthony Bradford

Bradford was not good last year in his rookie season and has not started 2024 well either. He allowed two pressures in 34 pass-block snaps, which doesn't sound terrible until one re-watches the game and sees how Bradford was just a swivel for most of the game. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Bradford graded an atrocious 30.9 pass-block grade.

The above is almost the best that can be said about Bradford. He had three total penalties, including a holding call in the end zone which gave the Broncos a safety. Bradford's backup, rookie Christian Haynes, only got one snap so one might wonder if Seattle is truly ready to make a change at right guard.

The question should be, however. not if to replace Bradford, but when. Haynes might need just a few more weeks of seasoning before taking over full-time at the spot.

Tight end AJ Barner

Barner is in a bit of a tough spot. The Seahawks clearly see him as a run-blocker because 20 of his 22 snaps were when Seattle ran the ball. The tight end looked overwhelmed for most of his time. He likely also only got as many snaps as he did because veteran Pharaoh Brown missed the game with an injury.

Once Brown returns, Barner will probably go back to sitting on the bench quite a bit. Brown is capable of being solid in both pass-blocking and run-blocking and can stick on the right side more to help out whoever is playing right guard and right tackle.

Punt returner Dee Williams

Williams was only kept on the 53-man roster to begin the season to be a punt returner. He was fantastic in college and flashed enough in training camp to look like he could lock down the returner spot for the foreseeable future. What a young returner cannot do is have a turnover, though.

Williams muffed his first and only punt return attempt and the Broncos recovered. If Williams could play cornerback, he might add value there, but he likely will never play as a CB. He is purely a returner.

What would not be surprising is for Seattle to have competition this week at punt returner. Possibly someone such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba who has sure hands and will simply make sure the opposing team doesn't get a break with Seattle fumbling a punt. Plus, what made the play worse was Williams tried to pick the ball up instead of falling on it.

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