Seahawks rookie nickelback clears injury report alongside Drake Maye’s shoulder as both teams shake off late-season ailments before Patriots matchup at Levi’s Stadium
Here’s the good news everybody’s been waiting for: the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie nickelback is ready to roll. Nick Emmanwori, who took an unfortunate tumble during Wednesday’s practice and rolled his ankle something fierce, got the all-clear Friday to suit up for Sunday’s Super Bowl LX clash against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. The same goes for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, whose right shoulder had been giving him grief all week. Both players are officially off the injury report with no game designations which basically means they’re good to go, no caveats, no asterisks.
This is exactly what the Seahawks wanted to hear heading into football’s biggest stage. Emmanwori was a full participant in Friday’s walk-through tempo practice, moving around like the injury was just a minor bump in the road. Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the status with characteristic humor, noting that Emmanwori was alive and well—a relief considering he’d limped off Wednesday’s field after rolling that ankle.
When sprained ankles become Super Bowl stories
Let’s put this in perspective: Emmanwori’s sprain was what the team called a “low sprain,” which sounds slightly better than it actually is. The rookie stayed positive about the whole situation, characterizing it as just a little scare. He didn’t participate Thursday, giving his ankle time to recover, but came back swinging Friday with full participation. That turnaround from Wednesday injury to Super Bowl ready is the kind of timeline you dream about in the NFL.
The injury happened late in Wednesday’s practice, and Emmanwori managed to walk off under his own power. By Thursday, the sentiment had shifted from cautionary to confident. Macdonald’s laid-back approach to the situation treating it as more of a blip than a crisis set the tone for the team’s entire week. The Seahawks were clearly focused on staying loose and focused, exactly as the coach had requested.
Patriots get their quarterback back, but linebacker questions linger
Over in the New England camp, things are looking mostly bright. Maye went from limited participation last week to fully engaged in the past three days of California practices. The quarterback previously said he turned a corner on the flight to the Bay Area Sunday, and by Thursday he was expressing genuine optimism about his condition. His right shoulder, which had been causing concern after limiting him early in the week, responded well to practice.
However, the Patriots have some uncertainty hovering over their defensive lineup. Linebacker Robert Spillane, who calls plays for the defense and wears the mental load of that responsibility, is officially questionable after sustaining an ankle injury in the AFC Championship Game on January 25. He’s been practicing on a limited basis since returning to the field, but whether he’ll be full-go Sunday remains up in the air. Edge rusher Harold Landry III finds himself in similar territory also questionable with a knee issue that’s been nagging him.
That said, both Spillane and Landry have expressed optimism recently about suiting up, suggesting they’re trending toward playing despite their designations.
The Seahawks’ health report reads like a miracle
Back to Seattle, quarterback Sam Darnold has been a full participant for two consecutive days without any game designation. His oblique injury from January 15 has been a non-issue at this point. The only Seahawks player carrying a game designation is fullback Robbie Ouzts, who’s questionable with a neck injury after limited participation all week. If Ouzts can’t go, special teams captain Brady Russell would shift into the fullback role.
Left tackle Charles Cross, who battled through a foot injury during the NFC Championship Game, was also fully involved Friday. The Seahawks’ injury report essentially reads like they dodged a bullet heading into the biggest game of the year a stark contrast to some teams that arrived in California dealing with multiple major ailments. As game day approaches, both teams are in decent health shape, setting up a championship matchup where peak physical condition meets preparation and strategy.
