The Seattle Seahawks are not yet confirmed to be in the playoffs for the first time since 2022, but the team making the postseason is almost certainly going to happen. Even if Seattle loses its last three games, which is unlikely, chances are the Seahawks make the playoffs.
Once there, head coach Mike Macdonald's team could be dangerous. The defense is very good, maybe just good enough to steal a victory when the offense is underperforming. The good thing is that Seattle got a bit healthier ahead of its Week 15 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
That is because 2025 fifth-round draft pick Rylie Mills made his debut for Seattle. Was he overly impactful? No, but that isn't the point. He has only been practicing for a few weeks after coming back from a knee injury he suffered late last season, when he was still at Notre Dame. His seven reps against Indy might not look substantial, but they might have a big payoff.
Rylie Mills makes his debut at the perfect time for the Seattle Seahawks
Teams in the playoffs need depth to allow players, especially along a defensive front, to stay fresh. If the Seattle Seahawks can have Mills reach a certain level of fitness where he is able to provide a good amount of reps in the postseason, the overall defensive front is better off.
Mills, to be sure, was far better than a fifth-round choice. He might have gone as high as a second-round choice had he not been injured so late in his final year of college. He has a lot of brute strength and can push even NFL offensive lineman toward their quarterbacks. He should also be stout against the run.
General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald knew what they were getting when the team took Mills. He wasn't going to have an immediate impact because of his knee injury. He might not have even been able to play as a rookie, but now he is coming back at the best possible time.
The Seattle Seahawks still have work to do, of course. That begins with a massive matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16 on Thursday Night Football, a game that could decide the NFC West division. Seattle surely doesn't want to settle for simply making the postseason; it has bigger game to hunt.
Rylie Millis is going to help with that. He should see more reps in the remaining regular season games for the Seahawks. Once the team is in the postseason, Mills should be ready to make a high-end impact for Seattle.