The Seattle Seahawks have a bye week in Week 11, and it can't come soon enough. The team has suffered the loss of key players for several weeks and will do so again in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Head coach Mike Macdonald ruled out defensive lineman Leonard Williams, left tackle Charles Cross, quarterback Sam Darnold, and left guard Quenton Nelson on Friday. The biggest loss might be Williams, though none of the losses are unexpected.
In fact, some positive news was announced, too. Edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu should play after missing a couple of games. Wide receiver and kick and punt returner Rashid Shaheed should play, too, and he has also missed a couple of games.
Seattle Seahawks will be missing four players against the Las Vegas Raiders
The problem is Williams. He is not only the Seahawks' best and most versatile defensive lineman, but he was extended recently and will need to stay healthy for the next several seasons. Therein lies the risk. He is already 32 years old, and aging players tend to stay less healthy. Based on his contract, any missed games are a real concern.
That is based on Williams long-term health. He has rarely missed games in his career, and he will now miss two straight. Did Seattle make a mistake in giving him an extension that pays him as much as $90 million over the next three seasons through 2029? He doesn't have any guaranteed money beginning in 2028.
This means if he continues to miss games, the Seahawks might have a real question about whether to keep him past 2027. He's been a terrific player and fantastic teammate, so losing him for any reason isn't good, but the realities of how the NFL works are brutal.
For our concerns here in Week 10, Seattle should be fine. The Raiders will be starting rookie Fernando Mendoza for the first time, and any rookie tends to struggle in their first start, especially a quarterback going against the excellent scheme of Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks' defense.
Maybe Leonard Williams sits out, but Seattle should still get the victory.
That is, as long as Drew Lock, starting in place of Sam Darnold, doesn't turn the ball over much. Those mistakes could change the outcome of the game. 5-5 entering the bye week should be no fun for the Seahawks. 6-4 is not great, but fine.
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