Nick Emmanwori's started his NFL career with a bang, recording a tackle for loss almost immediately after making his debut in the Seahawks opener.
Unfortunately for the rookie safety, and the Seahawks, Emmanwori also got hurt on that play, an unlucky ankle injury that was the result of teammate DeMarcus Lawrence's hand landing right on Emmanwori's ankle as he went to the ground trying to assist on the play.
The injury, a high-ankle sprain, caused the second-round pick out of South Carolina to miss Seattle's last three games, but after returning to practice last week, then practicing fully this week, Emmanwori will return to action for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
"I'm super excited, man," Emmanwori said after Friday's practice. "I got hurt like five plays into my debut, so I'm ready to get back out there. I've been doing a lot of grinding for rehab and PT and stuff, so I'm just excited to show face."
Having played so little in the opener, Emmanwori is viewing this game as something of a second NFL debut.
"I think I deserve to get a restart, so this is officially my second debut," he said with a grin.
Being sidelined so early in his career was a challenge for Emmanwori, who had a healthy college career, but his teammates helped keep his spirits up as he worked his way back for this second debut.
"It was super tough," he said. "It was my first injury since college—I only missed one game ever, so it was kind of tough sitting around. But a lot of the guys kept reminding me that it's a long football season, so there ain't no rush to get back. Just make sure that you're good and healthy and ready to go, stay sharp."
For the Seahawks, Emmanwori's return is a welcome one as they deal with two significant absences in their secondary. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon (knee) and safety Julian Love (hamstring) were able to return from their injuries to play in last week's win over Arizona, but both are out for this game. Also ruled out are Lawrence, who injured his quadricep last week, and tackle Josh Jones, who will miss a second straight game with an ankle injury.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Witherspoon "just got re-injured in the Arizona game," and said Love's hamstring injury "happened really late in the game."
Macdonald said the belief is that none of the four players out this week are looking at a stint on injured reserve. As for Emmanwori, Macdonald is just happy for the rookie to get another chance to show what he can do after his debut was cut short.
"I'm more excited for him to be able to go play a game," Macdonald said. "It's not easy, the guys played literally every snap since he walked in the door, every practice he was available, then you get a setback in the first game. That's not an easy mental thing to have to go through, and then go through the whole rehab to come back, and do it the way he's done it. I thought he handled himself very well, he stayed sharp, mentally, and I know he's itching for the opportunity, so I'm excited for him."
While the Seahawks will miss the presence of Witherspoon and Love, they also are confident in the players who will step in, having already turned to Derion Kendrick for two games in the nickel role, and to Ty Okada and D'Anthony Bell at safety when Love missed Seattle's Week 3 win over New Orleans.
"It was the same feeling going into New Orleans," Macdonald said. "Those guys had a good week of practice, they're locked in, and we expect them go play our brand of ball and go try to win a football game."
The Seahawks face the Buccaneers at Lumen Field for Week 5 of the 2025 season. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. Take a look back at photos from previous games between the two teams.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Eddie McMillan (41) during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oct. 17, 1976, in Tampa, Fla. (NFL Photos via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent catches a pass during game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium, Oct. 17, 1976. Seahawks won, 13-10. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Brent Williams (93) gestures to fans during play an NFL pre-season football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aug. 13, 1994 in Seattle. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Merton Hanks (36) celebrates his third quarter sack, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jorge Diaz stands nearby, Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, in Seattle. The Buccaneers won 16-3. (AP Photo/Matt Wallis)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) is tripped up by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dwight Smith in the first half Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom (96) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson (14) during the Seahawks 10-6 win Sunday Sept. 19, 2004 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Koren Robinson (81) goes horizontal to pull in a fourth-quarter pass from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brian Kelly Sunday Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks defeated the Buccaneers 10-6. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms (2) can only watch as his fourth-quarter pass is intercepted by Seattle Seahawks' Michael Boulware, foreground left, during the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks held on the beat the Buccaneers 10-6. Defending for the Buccaneers is Derrick Deese (70) as Seattle's Grant Wistrom (96) lies behind Simms. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, center, throws a touchdown pass while being defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Shelton Quarles, left, and Greg Spires during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18) celebrates with teammate Chris Spencer after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. Seattle won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott (40) winces as he gets hit by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Kevin Bentley during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, left, tries to evade Tampa Bay Buccaneers right cornerback Brian Kelly, second from left, and linebacker Derrick Brooks, second from right, in the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in a NFL football game at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Carnell Williams (24) tries to get past Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp on a run during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia (7) scrambles for six yards as Seattle Seahawks' LeRoy Hill brings him down during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-6. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks tight end John Carlson (89) runs in for a touchdown following a catch during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham (34) runs for a first down as Seattle Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux (27) makes the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett (30) returns a kick past Tampa Bay Buccaneer's Ryan Clark (87) during an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seatle Seahawks 20-10. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) gets past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Greg White (91) and Gaines Adams during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. Tampa Bay won 20-10. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Derrick Ward (28) in action against the Seattle Seahawks, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' John Carlson crosses the goal line to score a touchdown in the second quarter under pressure from Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Sabby Piscitelli, right, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense lines up against the Seattle Seahawks offense during an NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sammie Stroughter (18) is gang tackled during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) is upended during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams (19) dives past Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant (23) to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ben Obomanu (87) beats Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber (20) to score on a third-quarter two-point conversion during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Running back Marshawn Lynch (24) of the Seattle Seahawks runs upfield against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 26, 2010 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor (31) celebrates during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) rolls out to pass during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin in action during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) gets tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Akeem Spence (97) and defensive end William Gholston (92) during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) sets for a snap in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) tumbles for a gain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and cornerback Jeremy Lane (20) tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs for yardage past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
