The Seattle Seahawks walked out of Atlanta with a 37-9 win and a 10-3 record, but they did not escape completely healthy, with head coach Mike Macdonald updating knee injuries to nose tackle Brandon Pili and rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo after the game.
Macdonald sounded optimistic about Pili, who left Sunday’s win against the Atlanta Falcons with a knee issue and was listed as questionable to return before retaking the field. Asked postgame what he knew about “Pili and Aoyo and the injuries,” Macdonald replied, “Yeah, I think Pili is okay.” He was more cautious on Arroyo, saying, “Arroyo, we’re going to see, it’s a knee, so we’ll evaluate it.”
Both players had been flagged on the in-game injury report with knee injuries, and only Pili returned as Seattle’s defense and special teams dominated the second half.
Seahawks Get Encouraging Brandon Pili Update, But Elijah Arroyo’s Knee Is a Question
Pili’s situation is the clearer of the two. The 334-pound nose tackle has been part of Seattle’s big-body wave up front and even appeared on special teams under the NFL’s new kickoff rules. Macdonald’s “I think Pili is okay” suggests the team does not initially believe the knee injury is serious, though he did not specify whether further testing is planned.
Arroyo’s status is more uncertain. The second-round tight end out of Miami left with his own knee issue and was also labeled questionable to return on the TV and league injury reports. Macdonald’s brief update — that it’s a knee and will be evaluated — is usually coach-speak for “wait for imaging,” leaving his availability for Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts up in the air.
The injuries came on a day when just about everything else went right for Seattle. Sam Darnold shook off a slow start to throw three second-half touchdown passes, Jaxon Smith-Njigba continued his breakout season, and Rashid Shaheed broke the game open with a 100-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter. On defense, Nick Emmanwori had a career day with a sack, interception and blocked field goal, while Devon Witherspoon grabbed a pick of his own as the Seahawks again kept an opponent out of the end zone.
What Pili & Arroyo Injuries Mean for the Seahawks
If Pili is indeed “okay,” as Macdonald put it, the Seahawks may have dodged a significant blow in the middle of their defensive line. The nose tackle has helped anchor a rotation that includes Byron Murphy II and Rylie Mills when healthy, part of the front that has powered back-to-back dominant defensive performances.
Losing Pili for any time would test that depth, especially with Seattle entering a critical stretch that includes the Colts, Rams, Panthers and 49ers to close the regular season. For now, the initial read from the head coach suggests the Seahawks are hoping this is more of a scare than a setback.
Arroyo’s knee is potentially the bigger concern for the offense. The rookie has been working his way into the tight end rotation and offers upside as a downfield and red-zone target in an attack that already features Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and a productive backfield. If he misses time, Seattle may have to lean more heavily on its other tight ends and wide receivers in two- and three-tight-end packages, particularly in short yardage and in the red zone where those bodies matter.
With the Seahawks now firmly in the NFC playoff picture at 10-3, any new injury question is significant, even if Sunday’s news landed as “mixed” rather than “brutal.” Expect Macdonald to provide more clarity on Pili and Arroyo early in the week as Seattle turns the page to the Colts and a pivotal Week 15 home game at Lumen Field.
Seahawks Get Injury Updates on Nose Tackle, Rookie TE After Falcons Win