Why Seattle Seahawks Biggest Offseason 'Addition' May Be Healthy Uchenna Nwosu

Losing one player shouldn't completely derail a defense, but that is exactly what happened when Uchenna Nwosu went down for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023, making his return huge news for the franchise.

Corbin K. Smith | Apr 11, 2024

Dec 15, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason (24) breaks a / Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Seattle Seahawks

Missing the final 11 games of the 2023 season with a torn pectoral muscle, Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu "absolutely" believes he will be ready for the start of training camp, which may be the best news the team has received all offseason.

Signed to a lucrative extension last July, Nwosu got off to a strong start in his second season as a Seahawk, helping a much-improved run defense that jumped from 30th in 2022 to a top-five unit over the first seven weeks of the season. Unfortunately, he was lost for the season making a tackle in a win over the Cardinals in Week 7 and the defense self-destructed without him, reverting back to one of the NFL's worst at stopping the run with him sidelined.

Prior to suffering a torn pectoral muscle, the Seahawks gave up less than 90 rushing yards per game with Uchenna Nwosu in the lineup last season. / Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

On a new episode of Locked On Seahawks, hosts Corbin Smith and Rob Rang break down why a fully healthy Nwosu may be the biggest offseason addition for Seattle transitioning into the Mike Macdonald era and dive into ugly numbers showcasing how much the team regressed defensively without him last season, including startling discrepancies in rushing yards allowed per game and explosive runs of 10 or more yards.

Smith and Rang also examine the latest reported top-30 draft visits, including Miami ball-hawking safety Kamren Kinchens, and share their thoughts on day one, day two, and day three defensive tackle prospects who the Seahawks may have interest in as the 2024 NFL Draft approaches.

Listen to the latest Locked On Seahawks in the video player above or subscribe for free to the podcast platform of your choice here.

Follow and Subscribe to Locked On Seahawks on all Podcast platforms 🎧

Follow Corbin Smith on X and Threads, where he'll be sharing the latest news about the Seattle Seahawks and talking with fans.

Published Apr 11, 2024

CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.