Bobby Wagner has come full circle.
After 10 seasons in Seattle, together with a Tremendous Bowl victory, the six-time, first-team All-Professional choice at linebacker was minimize for salary-cap functions.
He signed final 12 months with the Los Angeles Rams, for whom he was a second-team All-Professional with 140 tackles and a career-high six sacks.
However now Wagner is again in Seattle and able to face the visiting Rams in Sunday’s NFL season opener.
With the Seahawks having switched their defensive alignment since Wagner’s departure, some query how a lot of an impression the 33-year-old can have.
“I might care much less what individuals say. I do know what I’ve and what I am able to,” Wagner mentioned. “You hear the speak, however you simply watch for that second to show your self proper.”
When Wagner signed with the Rams, he joined the defending Tremendous Bowl champions, whereas the Seahawks had simply traded Russell Wilson to Denver.
However the Seahawks shocked, making the playoffs final season because the Rams completed 5-12.
“He is actually assured and he is in charge of what he is doing, perhaps extra now than ever,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll mentioned of Wagner. “We’ll see the way it comes collectively.”
The Seahawks shall be with out security Jamal Adams as he continues his restoration from a torn quadriceps tendon suffered within the 2022 season opener. Rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon, the No. 5 general decide within the NFL draft, is questionable with a lingering hamstring damage.
However large receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle’s different first-round decide, is about to play regardless of having surgical procedure to restore a slight fracture in his wrist two weeks in the past.
Whereas Wagner expects a contented homecoming, it will not be one for Rams receiver Cooper Kupp.
Kupp, a local of Yakima, Wash., who starred at Japanese Washington College, has been dominated out of the sport due to a hamstring damage.
Coach Sean McVay mentioned the Rams are contemplating placing Kupp on injured reserve, which might trigger him to overlook the primary 4 weeks of the season.
Kupp, the MVP of Tremendous Bowl 56, injured his hamstring throughout coaching camp in early August, and he had a setback final week. He traveled to Minnesota over the weekend to see a specialist.
“Actually not way more data,” McVay mentioned. “Simply coping with some soft-tissue stuff, simply making an attempt to get him to really feel again to regular. When that finally ends up occurring, we’ll have him again, however within the meantime, he is not going to be enjoying for us.”
Kupp missed the ultimate eight video games of final season with an ankle damage, ending with 75 catches for 812 yards. He gained the Triple Crown of receiving in 2021, main the league in catches, yards receiving and receiving TDs.
“I feel an important factor is each time he is in a position to take the sphere, whether or not that be Week 2, no matter it’s, so long as he is in a position to have that return to efficiency, he is feeling just like the Cooper Kupp that everyone knows and love, and he is received some readability on, all proper, what is absolutely happening?” McVay mentioned.
With out Kupp, quarterback Matthew Stafford’s targets shall be Van Jefferson, newcomer Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and rookie Puka Nacua.
Rams rookie backup quarterback Stetson Bennett, who led Georgia to the previous two faculty soccer nationwide championships, will miss the sport with a proper shoulder damage. That leaves solely Brett Rypien ought to Stafford go down.
Rams tight finish Hunter Lengthy (hamstring) additionally missed follow time this week.
– Discipline Stage Media