For a defending champion that as recently as early last week forced eyebrows in the Northwest into a high arch after a 3-3 start, the Seahawks are abruptly back in the business of badassery.
The 20-3 lashing of the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night on national TV was persuasive evidence. So was the Tuesday acquisition of offensive lineman Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts.
A much-decorated guard, Nelson, 30, fixes the Seahawks’ weakest link in the starting lineup with experience and high-end talent. The transaction — draft picks went to the Colts in 2027 (third round) and 2028 (fifth) — was a teensy price to pay to help the moribund run game and calm the yips that sometimes haunt QB Sam Darnold when he drops to pass.
Nelson fixes a problem at right guard that contributed nearly as much to the raggedy Seahawks start on offense as the absences of rushers Kenneth Walker (departed as a free agent to KC), Zach Charbonnet (knee surgery) and rookie Jadarian Price (inexperience and a chest bruise).
Seahawks players and coaches rarely criticize current team members. But the truth is that Anthony Bradford, a fourth-round pick in 2023 from Louisiana State who started all 20 games in the title season, has been the weakest link in the starting 11. This season he missed five games with knee and hip injuries, returning for the KC game. Pro Football Focus gives him an overall season grade of 50.9, near the bottom for all NFL guards. Nelson’s PFF grade is 85.7, third-best in the league.
Bradford’s pass blocking was a vulnerability. During his injury absence, his backups offered no improvement. The most significant problem in Seattle’s consecutive losses to Denver and San Francisco was not turnovers but the five sacks of Darnold in each game. Through the 17 games of the 2025 regular season, the Seahawks allowed 27 sacks; through seven games this season, it’s 16. That’s not all on Bradford, but his spot was the easiest to upgrade.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Thursday that Nelson will start at left guard Monday night against the Chicago Bears, bumping former first-round choice Grey Zabel to Bradford’s spot on the right. The shuffle is abrupt and difficult, so Macdonald tried not to damage egos by over-selling the deal.
“It’s not an easy situation,” he said. “We put a lot of time and effort into the chemistry of the offensive line . . . There are a couple of things shaken up right now. There’s no way to sugar-coat it . . . (Bradford) is not overjoyed, but he’s a tough cookie.”
The temporary disruption is worth it for the 330-pound Nelson, a three-time All-Pro selection and an eight-time Pro Bowl pick.
“What stands out (on video) is his physicality and relentless play, and decisiveness,” Macdonald said. “He’s a guy you want to run behind.”
Predictably, Nelson said all the right things at his debut Thursday before practice. “It’s a little bittersweet,” he said of leaving the Midwest (he’s a Notre Dame grad — a unanimous All-America selection — and spent his entire NFL career in Indy). “I built a lot of great relationships. But I’m excited about this next chapter in Seattle.
“The nature here is sick.”
So is the fan following. But the fan following may have to pump the brakes a bit regarding Monday. Left tackle Charles Cross will not play because of a high ankle sprain. Although his backup, Josh Jones, is competent, the multiple O-line changes almost guarantee multiple errors.
A good example is what happened to the Chiefs Sunday. Both starting tackles were out with injuries. Although hard to measure precisely, their absences — plus the absences of two injured wide receivers — contributed to a record-breaking collapse of the Chiefs offense. Seattle’s defense was geeked to deny Walker — their former teammate, Super Bowl MVP and this season’s NFL rushing leader — any meaningful work. The result: 36 rushing yards on 14 carries. Additionally, the pass rush was terrifying.
The upshot was a game of astonishing futility for a team led by Patrick Mahomes, one of the best QBs in NFL annals.
OptaSTATS is the official X account for @StatsPerform’s U.S. sports coverage. Here is how the site interpreted the Chiefs’ historic ineptitude:
The Chiefs were the only NFL team in the Super Bowl era to have a game with:
No 10+ yard rushes
No 20+ yard passes
No red zone drives
No touchdowns
Multiple missed field goals
That’s the kind of productivity that would draw job offers from the Trump administration. It’s not likely to be duplicated by the rising 5-2 Bears and their quarterback, Caleb Williams, 24, whom some have likened to a younger, healthier version of Mahomes. Playing four games, he leads the NFL in QB rating (79.6) mostly because of completion percentage (72.5), and five TD passes to one interception.
Not only is the matchup the Seahawks’ third national prime time game in a row (following Denver on a Thursday night and the Chiefs Sunday night), it is a chance to prove that badassery was not just a 2025 thing, but a habit.
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