The Seattle Seahawks did exactly what they were supposed to do on Sunday. They took on an improving Carolina squad with playoff aspirations and showed the Panthers firsthand just how far they had to go to be considered a legitimate contender.
The Seahawks’ defense held Bryce Young and company to a measly 139 total yards – 2.7 yards per play. The defense was dominant enough to allow Sam Darnold time to get his own offense in gear, which he did in the second half, behind the running of Zach Charbonnet.
It was almost a perfect tune-up for a Week 18 showdown with the San Francisco 49ers, with the top seed in the NFC on the line. But there was one potentially enormous blemish on the win. Seattle lost one of its most dangerous weapons when wide receiver/kick returner Rashid Shaheed left the game with a concussion at the end of the first quarter.
With the 49ers hovering, how will the Seattle Seahawks handle Rashid Shaheed’s injury?
There is no way to accurately predict when a player will return from a concussion. Shaheed’s fate is in the hands of doctors, as it should be. They will clear him to return to action based on established medical standards.
Though he could be ready for the 49ers' game in Week 18, data suggest that will not be the case. It is typical for a player to miss at least one week of action with a concussion. And it could absolutely be an even longer recovery.
So Mike Macdonald, Klint Kubiak, and Jay Harbaugh will be preparing for a suddenly resurgent San Francisco club without one of their most explosive players. Shaheed has not yet been a major factor on offense, but he is always a threat on screens and jet sweeps. And he has been just about the best kick and punt returner in the league this year.
Recently acquired running back Cam Akers handled kickoff returns after Shaheed went out. The Panthers did not punt after the injury, so no one had to step into that role.
Who will the Hawks turn to on Saturday to field kickoffs and punts? Because the two teams will be playing for a first-round bye, the outcome will be even more crucial. Should Seattle lose, they may be headed into a wild-card round matchup without their top returner. If they win, Shaheed gets an extra week of recovery time.
I'm going to rule out Hall of Fame return specialist Devin Hester, who actually ended his career with the Seahawks and who, at 43, is younger than Philip Rivers. Here are four more realistic broad options for Macdonald to consider. Though each of the following players could assume Shaheed’s role, they are really just representatives of the four strategies the Hawks might employ.
In-house, Dareke Young and Jake Bobo
Jay Harbaugh has plenty of options already on the roster to take care of kickoff returns. In addition to Akers, George Holani and Dareke Young have looked solid on multiple returns this year. They are not as dangerous as Shaheed, but they would be reliable.
They do not have nearly as much experience when it comes to punts. If they want to play things as safely as possible, they might turn to Jake Bobo. Though he has not returned punts for Seattle, he did the job in college. Bobo is not breaking any long returns. He will simply secure the catch and perhaps gain a few yards. That may be all Macdonald and Harbaugh are looking for. Reliability.
In-house, Ricky White III
Seattle has the perfect replacement for Saheed on its roster. He can return kickoffs and punts and is almost as deadly as Shaheed. It is rookie receiver Tory Horton. Unfortunately, Horton shows no signs of returning from the shin injury that has kept him off the field in the second half of the season.
But they have another rookie wide receiver stashed on the practice squad who has similar attributes. Ricky White III, Seattle’s final draft pick in 2025, was a standout special teamer in college. He has only seen limited action in a couple of games this season, but he would provide a more explosive option on punts than Bobo.
White was a kick-blocking demon and an excellent gunner in college. He did not return many kicks. But he does have experience, and he did show genuine talent when called upon.
Free agents, Deonte Harty
There are free agents available with strong returner resumes. Harty is one example. The 2019 All-Pro returner played for Baltimore last season (he was not on the Ravens in 2023 when Macdonald was the defensive coordinator) and had a good year until a knee injury knocked him out in Week 6.
The Seahawks might also consider bringing back Jaelon Darden, who they used late last year when dissatisfied with their existing kickoff and punt returners.
Poaching from the practice squad, Steven Sims
This may be the best option for the Hawks. Veteran returner Steven Sims competed for a roster spot in Seattle during the offseason, but ultimately lost out to the younger players, Horton and White. He joined the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad three weeks ago and returned some kicks for them in the past two weeks.
Sims played in Week 17, and if the Cardinals choose to keep him on the 53-man roster, he would not be available for Seattle. If they revert him to the practice squad, as they did after their Week 16 game, he could be an option.
One of GM John Schneider’s primary jobs at this point in the season is to keep tabs on all available free agents and practice squad players. If Macdonald decides that his in-house options are not up to the task, Schneider will bring in outside help for tryouts.
Regardless of how they resolve this problem, everyone hopes that Rashid Shaheed makes a speedy recovery.