The Seattle Seahawks began the season with incredible pressure numbers, and most of the time, while only rushing four players. That kind of consistent production is probably done for now, and maybe for a long time. The edge rush group is a mess.
The issue is that 12s might have presumed months ago what would happen. Injuries are going to happen to every team, but injuries are going to happen to older players more often. Derick Hall and Boye Mafe are both under 30 and still on their rookie deals.
Uchenna Nwosu is 28 years old and has suffered numerous injuries over the last couple of years. One might have assumed he would get hurt again. Not because fans want him to (Nwosu is a very good person), but because 12s are used to seeing Nwosu being forced to miss games.
Seattle Seahawks need more from DeMarcus Lawrence but he might not be able to provide much
The real gamble this offseason was signing veteran DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency. The former Dallas Cowboys player has been very good for a long time, but he is also now 33 years old and played in only four games last season. Expecting him to stay healthier while older might have been expecting too much.
The veteran was playing well against the run through three games, but not supplying much in terms of quarterback pressure. 10 reps into Week 4, though, he injured his quadricep and missed the rest of the game and Week 5. On the first practice report of Week 6, Lawrence also didn't practice.
One might assume he won't play against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and there is no real timetable for his return. Couple this with so many other defensive injuries for the Seattle Seahawks, including Hall, who hurt his oblique in Week 5 and may be out a while, and the great Seattle defense might be a shell of itself for a bit.
The Jaguars are far from perfect, but they are certainly improved. 12s saw what Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did against Seattle, and while Trevor Lawrence and the Jags aren't as good as the Bucs, they could also have a breakout game against a banged-up Seahawks team.
DeMarcus Lawrence was signed to a three-year deal that is really only a one-year contract. He has no guaranteed money in 2026 and 2027, and the team could save $9.2 million if he were released next offseason. No one wants that to happen; Seattle Seahawks fans want him to do well. He might just not stay healthy enough to do so.