– The Seahawks could be without starting outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu for the rest of the season, Pete Carroll said
The Seahawks defense has been playing great over the past three games, but that group suffered a significant blow in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals.
An American football rush end/outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who has been a standout and leader on defense since signing in free agency last year, suffered a pectoral injury in Seattle’s 20-10 win that will likely require season-ending surgery.
Born in the United States, Nwosu is of Nigerian decent. His proper name is Anon Uchenna Nwosu Jr..
“He’s got a pec injury that’s going to probably require surgery,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “That’s what we’re hearing right now.
Asked to clarify if that meant a season-ending situation, Carroll said, “I don’t have all of the information on it, but it sounds like it’s heading towards surgery, so if that happens, yes.”
Nwosu, who signed with the Seahawks last season, then about three months ago signed a contract extension for three years and up to $59 million, with $32 million guaranteed.
He is one of the team’s best defensive players in 2022, recording 9.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 26 quarterback hits and 66 tackles, all career highs, on his way to being named a Pro-Bowl alternate.
This season Nwosu has 2.0 sacks, four tackles for loss and six quarterback hits, and just as importantly has become a leader on defense.
“He’s one of the real pillars of this thing, and it’s going to be hard to not have him, because he has a great voice, and they listen to him,” Carroll said. “He doesn’t say a lot, but when he does, he’s strong and firm. That’s leadership, so we’re going to miss that. There’s really no way to replace that, he’s too unique. Other guys will have to add what they can bring, but we’re really going to miss ‘Chenna.”
While the Seahawks obviously could look to add to the outside linebacker group via free agency or a trade, Carroll said for now the focus is on getting everyone else in the rotation ready to step up in Nwosu’s absence, a group that includes Boye Mafe, who has been the starter opposite Nwosu, Darrell Taylor and rookie Derick Hall. The Seahawks also have Tyreke Smith on the practice squad as another option at outside linebacker.
“We’ve got to count on our rotation,” Carroll said. “We’ve had a rotation going the whole time, and we’ll just continue that. It’s challenges us though. Uchenna’s a fantastic football player and a great team member. He’s such a tough guy and such a heady player and so consistent. He’s always really physical, so he always sends the right message. Really, we’ll miss him.”
Nwosu, who joined Seahawks in 2022 as a free agent from the Chargers, played college football at University of South Carolina (USC), and was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round with the 48th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Nwosu, 26, was due to make a $7.5 million base salary in 2023 on a contract that included a cap hit of $13.01 million.