Ty Okada entered Seattle Seahawks training camp as the favorite to win an open starting job at safety. The unfortunate injury to Bud Clark has made his position considerably stronger.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed after Sunday’s preseason game against the Tennessee Titans that Clark suffered a broken ankle after being injured on Seattle’s first defensive snap.
Clark’s injury removes one of the most intriguing challengers for playing time in Seattle’s secondary and forces the Seahawks to reassess their depth at the position.
“We’re going to have to re-evaluate with where we’re at,” Macdonald said after the game. “We saw some good things out of A.J. and D’Anthony, but we’ll have to evaluate.”
For Okada, however, the path to remaining in the starting lineup now appears much clearer.
Ty Okada Was Already Leading Seahawks’ Safety Competition
Seattle did not enter the preseason needing Clark to become an immediate starter.
Okada already held the top spot on the Seahawks’ depth chart alongside Julian Love, with Clark listed behind him. Seattle’s own website identified Okada as the favorite for the vacancy before training camp began.
That status was earned last season.
Okada appeared in all 17 games for Seattle in 2025 and made 11 starts while filling in for both Love and Coby Bryant. He recorded 65 tackles, three tackles for loss, six passes defensed, 1.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Bryant’s departure for the Chicago Bears during free agency created an opening in the Seahawks’ starting secondary, and Okada arrived at camp with a significant experience advantage over the other candidates.
Clark had become the biggest variable.
Seattle selected the TCU safety with the No. 64 overall pick after he recorded 15 interceptions over his final four college seasons. His ability to play safety and nickel gave Macdonald another versatile defensive back capable of competing for snaps immediately.
Clark had also begun making enough of an impression in camp to suggest Seattle had plans for him beyond a developmental rookie season.
Seahawks.com described Clark in early August as “pushing for a big role in the defense,” and Macdonald’s scheme has consistently created opportunities for defensive backs who can handle multiple assignments.
A broken ankle now puts those plans on hold.
Mike Macdonald Says Seahawks Must Reevaluate Safety Depth
The emotional impact of Clark’s injury was obvious before the Seahawks even reached halftime.
Players left the sideline and gathered around the rookie while he was being attended to on the field.
“It’s not easy,” Macdonald said. “I think to see how our team reacted, we had the whole team go out there to give him some love. That tells you what everybody thinks about him.”
Macdonald said he spoke briefly with Clark afterward.
“I just gave him a hug at halftime,” Macdonald said. “That was it.”
The football questions now move to the rest of Seattle’s safety room.
Macdonald specifically mentioned A.J. Finley and D’Anthony Bell after the game, two players who could see their opportunities increase with Clark sidelined.
Finley was already competing for a reserve role, while Bell provides both defensive and special-teams experience. Seattle also has Rodney Thomas II and Maxen Hook on the depth chart.
Nick Emmanwori adds another layer of flexibility, although Seattle has used him extensively in a hybrid role rather than as a conventional full-time safety. Emmanwori only recently passed his physical after undergoing ankle surgery during the offseason.
That makes Okada’s stability particularly valuable.
Rather than needing to identify a replacement starter, Seattle may now be determining how to rebuild the depth and specialized packages around Okada and Love.
Clark Injury Makes Okada’s Starting Role Even More Secure
There was already a strong argument that Okada would open the regular season as Seattle’s starter.
Clark’s injury makes that outcome considerably more likely.
Okada has the advantage in NFL experience, familiarity with Macdonald’s defense and recent starting production. He also has already demonstrated that Seattle can rely on him for extended stretches when injuries strike.
Clark represented the highest-upside challenger because of his draft status, ball production and versatility.
Now the Seahawks have a different problem.
Instead of deciding whether a second-round rookie could push Okada out of the starting lineup, Macdonald and his staff must determine how to replace the snaps they expected Clark to compete for.
The answer could involve larger roles for Finley or Bell, different combinations involving Emmanwori or another roster move as Seattle moves closer to the regular season.
What no longer appears particularly uncertain is the player at the top of the depth chart.
Okada entered camp as the favorite.
After Clark’s broken ankle, his grip on the job looks stronger than ever.
Bud Clark Injury Leaves Ty Okada in Strong Position for Seahawks Job