Seahawks defense ailing ahead of matchup against Chiefs

The 2026 season has not started the way the Seattle Seahawks and their fans had hoped, with the offense struggling with turnovers on the heels of a 2025 season that saw the team lift the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX.

Consecutive losses to the division rival San Francisco 49ers and the once division rival Denver Broncos have Seattle at 3-3, the eighth best record in the NFC. Of course, with only the top seven teams making the postseason, that would leave the Seahawks on the outside looking in as they gear up for a key matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

At 5-0 the Chiefs are one of just three undefeated teams in the NFL, as their offense is rejuvenated thanks to a return to health for Patrick Mahomes and the little-discussed addition of Kenneth Walker as a free agent in the offseason.

Walker leads the NFL in rushing yards through the first six weeks of 2026, even though Kansas City has already has its bye week, meaning they have only played five games. Averaging 133 rushing yards per game, Walker is set to face a defense that has not allowed a one hundred yard rusher since October 27, 2024.

However, while Walker will get to face a Seattle run defense that has played at an elite level so far in 2026, it’s a group that is far from healthy, particularly the front seven.

Starting linebacker Drake Thomas missed the Week 6 game against the Broncos and did not participate in practice Thursday, while Demarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu were both limited on Thursday. Lawrence sat out of practice Wednesday as a veteran rest day, but had a knee injury notated on the injury report for Thursday, while Nwosu is now dealing with a hip issue according to the report.

The depth at linebacker could be tested, as backups Tyrice Knight, Chazz Surratt and Connor O’Toole are also all listed on the report. Those three have not contributed quite as much on defense so far this year, but they have been mainstays on the special teams units, which will be something to keep in mind if the game stays close and comes down to special teams.

On the good news front, Zach Charbonnet, Anthony Bradford and Rashid Shaheed were all full participants for the offense, which could help a struggling Sam Darnold against a Kansas City defense that is second in the NFL in points allowed thanks to a stout run defense, the ability to hit the quarterback and force turnovers.

And now it’s on to the Friday injury report.