Brady Henderson
RENTON, Wash. — Riq Woolen's pricey miscues within the Seattle Seahawks' season-opening loss and the emergence of Josh Jobe have put the Professional Bowl cornerback's standing as an every-down starter in query.
“We'll see,” coach Mike Macdonald mentioned Wednesday when requested if Woolen would begin in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Earlier this week, Macdonald mentioned Jobe is competing for extra snaps after a “great” Week 1 exhibiting in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers. The coach's feedback on Wednesday additional indicated that any elevated function for the group's No. 3 cornerback would come at Woolen's expense.
Woolen misplayed two throws on the 49ers' successful drive — a 45-yard completion to receiver Ricky Pearsall down the sideline and the decisive landing to tight finish Jake Tonges.
Woolen was tightly masking Pearsall after the receiver's double transfer, solely to sluggish up when showing to misjudge the ball within the air.
“I may have simply performed the ball higher,” Woolen instructed ESPN on Wednesday. “I ran the route for him, and I knew what sort of route it was. I've simply bought to execute and assault the ball and never lose observe of the ball.”
Pearsall's catch bought the 49ers into Seattle territory. 5 performs later, Brock Purdy scrambled and located Tonges within the facet of the tip zone. Woolen was in place to at the least break up the throw — if not intercept it — however he was drifting away from the ball as Tonges snagged it to place San Francisco up 17-13 with 1:44 left.
“I've simply bought to assault the ball,” mentioned Woolen, who made the Professional Bowl as a rookie fifth-round choose in 2022. “That is just about it.”
In line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Woolen allowed three receptions on 4 targets for 73 yards and a landing as the closest defender in protection. That amounted to a 156.3 passer score in opposition to him. He saved a landing with an earlier go breakup on the objective line.
The yardage Woolen allowed as the closest defender was the second most of his profession.
Jobe, in the meantime, had one in every of Seattle's two interceptions of Purdy and allowed only one catch for 1 yard on 5 targets as the closest defender, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. Jobe performed 61 of 76 defensive snaps, a heavier-than-expected workload that got here after rookie security Nick Emmanwori suffered a excessive ankle sprain on the opening drive.
“Josh is able to go,” Macdonald mentioned. “He is all the time going to be an enormous a part of the sport plan. He is competing for extra snaps, and I assumed he performed an amazing soccer recreation. He performed bodily, he performed good, he performed disciplined ending performs proper. I assumed he performed a terrific recreation.”
Added Macdonald: “You exit and also you produce, why would we not play you?”
Woolen's doubtlessly decreased function comes on the heels of an up-and-down 2024 season. His 78.7 passer score in opposition to as the closest defender ranked sixteenth amongst 77 defenders with at the least 500 protection snaps, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, and one in every of his three interceptions sealed a win over the Chicago Bears.
However Woolen was on the flawed finish of vital errors late in video games, together with the decisive landing in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He was benched for the opening drive of that recreation on account of an undisclosed violation of group guidelines.
Macdonald talked final season and once more this offseason in regards to the want for Woolen to remain locked in on each play.
“I actually imagine Riq was attempting to assault the soccer,” Macdonald mentioned of the Tonges landing. “We might have all liked for him to make the play. I assure you Tariq Woolen is the No. 1 individual that he needs he made the play, too. He is made performs like that. … He is made some great performs for us. He made a terrific play on the objective line.
“Sadly, the 2 performs that he desires again are those close to the tip of the sport. One's a way factor, and I believe the opposite factor's simply perhaps placing your self in a greater physique place the place you make the play and never the opposite man. However the different man made a terrific play, too.”
Woolen was requested whether or not Macdonald has communicated something to him about his function altering this week.
“I do not know,” Woolen mentioned. “He is the pinnacle man, so no matter he say, goes. I ain't going to go in opposition to it. Aside from that, I can simply proceed to be Riq and proceed to be a terrific participant [like] I've been doing.”
The Seahawks' secondary can be coping with accidents. The opposite beginning cornerback, Devon Witherspoon, did not observe Wednesday (shoulder), whereas security Julian Love (groin) was restricted.
Macdonald mentioned the group will wait till later within the week to determine whether or not to place Emmanwori on injured reserve, which might sideline the second-round choose for at the least 4 video games.
Exterior linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who's coming off knee surgical procedure, was a full participant in observe after being listed as restricted all three days final week.
