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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 15: Derick Hall #58 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field on December 15, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks have had one of the best defenses in the league all season long despite some significant injuries on that side of the ball. Now, after battling through bad injury luck through the first six weeks of the season, health might be starting to turn the Seahawks’ way.
CB Devon Witherspoon, CB Riq Woolen, and S Julian Love are all expected to play against the Texans on Monday night. Guys like ED DeMarcus Lawrence and ED Uchenna Nwosu, who have dealt with injuries of their own earlier in the year, are also healthy and ready to go.
It sets up well for a critical home tilt against the surging Texans. The Seahawks are trying to keep pace with the 49ers and Rams in the extremely competitive NFC West division, and the Rams won on Sunday morning against the Jaguars in London to move to 5-2 on the year. Seattle would benefit greatly from a win Monday night, especially as their schedule toughens down the stretch.
Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald on the Health of ED Derick Hall
Rio Giancarlo/GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 03: Derick Hall #58 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts during the third quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on November 03, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)
Not every injured Seahawk is expected back against the Texans. ED Derick Hall has already been ruled out of Monday night’s game as he continues to battle an oblique injury. He did not practice all week.
On Saturday, Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald offered an update on Hall’s status. “He’s coming along, you know,” Macdonald said. “He’s not going to play in this game, but we should expect him back after the bye.”
That’s great news for Seattle’s pass rush. Hall, a second-round pick out of Auburn in 2023 draft, has 10 tackles and two sacks on the season. After struggling somewhat as a rookie, Hall came on strong in his second season, with 37 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Until this season, Hall hadn’t missed a game in his NFL career.
The Seattle Seahawks are Locked in a Tight Divisional Battle
As previously mentioned, the Seahawks are in the midst of a serious battle for the NFC West. The Rams, who won on Sunday morning, are the current leaders at 5-2. The Seahawks and 49ers are just half a game behind at 4-2, while the Cardinals have lost four games by a total of nine points to sit at 2-4.
Seattle is 1-1 against divisional opponents, dropping their season opener to the 49ers and beating the Cardinals a few weeks ago on Thursday Night Football. Coming up, the Seahawks face the Texans, Commanders, and play the Cardinals again in their next three games.
After that, Seattle has two games against the Rams, as well as showdowns with the Colts, Vikings, and Falcons left on their schedule. It won’t be easy, but the Seahawks have an elite defense and one of the NFL’s premier quarterback/wide receiver connections in Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They’re very much a threat to win it and get one of the top seeds in the NFC.
Ethan Woodie is an accomplished sports writer specializing in the NFL and college football for Heavy.com. He’s written for Heavy since 2025 and has years of experience writing for NFL Trade Rumors and Pro Football Focus (PFF). Woodie is an expert in draft scouting and his final 2025 Big Board was included in Arif Hasan’s media consensus board for Wide Left. More about Ethan Woodie
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