Julian Love could miss another month
Is Ty Okada a future starting safety? He's definitely a current one!
Julian Love hasn’t played since aggravating a hamstring injury in Week 4’s Thursday contest against the Arizona Cardinals but the Seahawks chose not to put him on injured reserve. That looked like a good call up until Wednesday’s update from Mike Macdonald that not only did Love have a setback during Seattle’s bye week and his status for this week’s game is “in jeopardy”, but the safety could still go on injured reserve and miss another month of action, according to the head coach.
I haven’t been avoiding a conversation about Ty Okada on purpose, but now is as good a time as any to open the floor to opinions about his performance given that Love’s backup could finish this season with more snaps than him.
Love had 10 tackles and a sack in Week 1, his first sack as a member of the Seahawks, and a pass defensed in each of his next two games. Macdonald also used Love as a blitzer in all three of his appearances, something he only did in 5 games in 2024.
Okada, an undrafted free agent out of Montana State who is in his third season on Seattle’s “70-man roster”, has already played 100 more snaps than Love this season. He’s been used as a blitzer three times and had his first solo sack in Week 7 against the Texans.
Since being blamed for touchdowns allowed in Weeks 1 and 3, Okada hasn’t been the closest defender on any passing score. In the last 3 games, Okada’s coverage stats put 7 catches for 92 yards on him, but no touchdowns. The stats are even better at Next Gen Stats, although in his most recent game they said he allowed 5-of-5 for 45 yards, not 3-of-4 for 27:
On any account, Okada hasn’t been an eyesore like some Seahawks backup safeties of note such as Josh Jones (yes Jones, not Josh Jobe like my recent error) or Steven Terrell. Sometimes Okada even looks like he’s a future starting safety.
In a very literal sense, Okada will be starting for the Seahawks for the foreseeable future if Love goes on IR, which sounds likely given Macdonald’s tone.
In training camp, Love called Okada “a playmaker” who he had been advocating for to make the roster: “I see a lot of my former self early in my career in him.” He also said that the team calls him Tyrone and that he has his own theme song that coaches play in meetings when Okada stands out on film.
The Seahawks are going to need some version of Julian Love on the field over the next month, even if it’s the early one. What are your thoughts on Tyrone Okada so far?
Love’s timeline
If Julian Love goes on IR, he will miss the following games, at least:
Seattle’s next few games after that are the Vikings, Falcons, and Colts.
Other injuries
Sam Darnold made a debut that nobody wants: His first appearance on the injury report. There’s no indication that a chest injury will cause Darnold to miss Sunday’s game against Washington.
Macdonald indicated that Devon Witherspoon and Derick Hall were on track to return. Fullback Robbie Ouzts was a full participant, on track to play his first game since Week 3. Christian Haynes’s 21-day window to be activated from IR has been opened, meaning he could be put on the 53-man roster at any point. Seattle has three weeks to put him on the roster or put him on season-ending IR.
Dareke Young is also a candidate to go on IR, per Macdonald. The Seahawks signed receiver Velus Jones to the practice squad and released Myles Gaskin. Jones would be a likely option to replace Young as Seattle’s primary kickoff returner; Young leads the NFL in yards per kickoff return.
Jones was a big name before the 2022 draft because he ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at 6’, 204 lbs. He returned 8 kicks for the Saints this year.
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Jayden Daniels IN (probably), Terry McLaurin OUT (probably)
Dan Quinn sounds like he expects quarterback Jayden Daniels to return this Sunday night against the Seahawks, but veteran receiver Terry McLaurin probably won’t join him out there. McLaurin, who has had over 1,000 yards in the past five seasons, caught his first touchdown of the season this week against the Chiefs.
Without McLaurin, Washington’s top receivers are Deebo Samuel, Luke McCaffrey, rookie Jaylin Lane, and Chris Moore.
Tackle Laremy Tunsil also missed practice because of a hamstring injury.
You got that on FILM?
Some Seahawks film studies for you this week:
Ernest Jones by all-22…click on this and watch it again! Show him that Seahawks fans support like nobody else so we get more content!
More by All-22.
Drake Thomas and Josh Jobe
Wil Upton on the Seahawks.
This isn’t so much film but you might like it.
Top Billin’ on the “Super Bowl contender” Offense
Not a lot to share after a bye week but there’s some. What did you take away from these videos?
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Okada has been a pleasant surprise for me. I thought he would be PS fodder, again, but he has really come through in spades. If he keeps playing this well, I think Coby walks and Okada takes his place.
How the hell do you have a setback on your week off? I was already leaning towards a pick 6 for Julian this Sunday night. Now how is that going to happen??? I think the game against the Rams and Stafford will be the biggest impact if Love goes on IR. I’m not too concerned about the Cards or Titans without Julian. It’d be nice to have Love against the Moons, but without Terry M, I think we will still beat the Moons with Tyrone out there. (And Spoon Emmanwori…)
Tyrone’s been improving every week with the added experience, so in a way he’s benefited from Love’s previously missed games and added experience. Let’s hope Stafford doesn’t get a chance to exploit him. We’re going to need pressure on Stafford to protect Tyrone if Love’s still out.