NFL Player News

Hamilton, a former fringe Cowboys player, missed the first four games of the 2014 season due to a substance abuse violation. This suspension is likely for another violation.

Coming off by far his best game of the year, Aiyuk posted a season low for targets as Brock Purdy attempted a modest 28 passes. George Kittle led the team with six targets, though five players commanded at least four looks. It’s maddening that Aiyuk continues to see such inconsistent usage, but we know he can’t keep finishing below 50 yards forever. He will be needed for much more in Week 7 against the Chiefs, though that’s a tough matchup for any wideout.

Lockett’s nine-yard score with 1:44 remaining was his first of the season. It came after a failed end zone look just a few moments before. Like every other Seahawks pass catcher, Lockett has been seeing plenty of volume the past three weeks as comeback game script has forced Geno Smith into bushels of attempts. He’s gone at least 4/61 every week in the process. Good, though he has not eclipsed 75 yards since Week 1. Lockett is ultimately looking like a middle-of-the-road WR4 with DK Metcalf dominating the big-play opportunities and Jaxon Smith-Njigba cleaning up on aisle PPR. Seattle visits Atlanta for Week 7.

JSN has now reached nine targets in 3-of-6 contests. Not bad, though this evening’s 53 yards were his second most of the season. It speaks to a high-floor, low-upside PPR dink-and-dunk game. It wasn’t been working in the real world, with the Seahawks turning in three straight thoroughly mediocre offensive performances. JSN did at least get targeted in the end zone this evening, but it was, for some reason, on a pair of fades. That’s not his game. Expect more of the same in Week 7 against the Falcons, where the Seahawks are unlikely to have the luxury of playing conservative.

Tonight was the third game in a row where Samuel saw five-or-fewer looks, but he had a 100-yard outing thanks to a 76-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The safety jumped Samuel’s route. He then proceeded to outrun LB Boye Mafe to the house. With Jordan Mason missing over half the game with a shoulder injury, Samuel’s four carries were his most since Week 1. He had an injury scare of his own, but it turns out he just hit his funny bone. The Chiefs await for Week 7.

It was a really poor night for Metcalf and Geno Smith’s connection, with Smith routinely missing Metcalf down the field. Metcalf “returned the favor” by failing to get both feet in bounds on an end-zone target. The duo also had a 52-yard fourth quarter score called back by an illegal shift penalty. Lastly, Metcalf was the target on a Smith interception where Renardo Green ran his route for him. Metcalf has been predictably boom or bust through six games under new OC Ryan Grubb, but that has included three 100-yard performances. He will find himself in the WR10-18 range for Week 7 against the Falcons.

Suddenly a check-down magnet, Walker is up to 15 catches over his past two games. He has been horribly inefficient with the receiving looks, which have not been good offense for the ‘Hawks. Tonight was a rare night of inefficiency from Walker on the ground, who is nevertheless up to five touchdowns in four games. With the Seahawks’ passing attack looking stagnant for the time being, a greater Walker ground-game commitment could be in the offing for Week 7 against the Falcons.

It was another inefficient Smith outing, one where he didn’t goose his stats on the ground. Smith has now piled up attempts in negative game scripts three weeks running, but he’s sitting on as many passing scores (six) as interceptions through six games. Tonight was particularly uninspired with Smith struggling to connect with DK Metcalf down the field and too frequently checking down to Kenneth Walker. Both of his interceptions were really poor throws, with the first killing the Seahawks’ opening drive in the red zone. This is not the offense the Seahawks want to be running, but they have a lackluster defense and lack of identity with the ball in their hands. They have 10 days to think things over ahead of Week 7 in Atlanta.

Purdy also scrambled four times for 19 yards. Purdy averaged 9.1 yards per attempt, putting him above 9.0 for the third time in four games. He’s at 8.8 on the season after that number was 9.6 last year. Whereas that 2023 mark was all about the YAC, Purdy has been going down field more in 2024. He keeps extending plays and making the connections out of structure that Jimmy Garoppolo never could. Purdy still has a tendency to maybe live a little too dangerously and tempt the football gods, but he pays for it surprisingly infrequently. He is clearly picking his spots well. Purdy has a massive Week 7 test in the Chiefs’ dominant defense. That will also be a “narrative setting” contest, for better or worse.

Kittle also rolled his ankle in the second half but stayed in the game and was no worse for the wear. Kittle’s fourth and fifth touchdowns of the season were 10- and nine-yard strikes, respectively. For the first, he used some fancy footwork to ensure he got past the pylon. For the second, he split the defense at the goal line. Kittle has now caught at least four passes in all five of his appearances, also reaching 40 yards all five times out. That might sound like damning with faint praise, but it’s a higher floor than maybe some expected while Kittle’s ceiling has remained firmly intact. He’s going to be needed for a huge effort in Week 7 against the Chiefs.