“We’ll see. We’ll see,” Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said in response to a question on if Seahawks CB Riq Woolen would start on Sunday. The embattled fourth-year cornerback had a rough go of it last week against the San Francisco 49ers, giving up some big plays, including the eventual game-winning touchdown pass.
It was an otherwise strong performance by the Seattle defense, limiting the Niners to just 17 points and keeping their strong rushing attack in check. But Woolen’s struggles allowed San Francisco to pull ahead in a low-scoring slugfest.
“He’s great, he’s great,” Macdonald said on how Woolen was handling the adversity. “I mean we had a similar situation last year. Look, all of our guys…every person we’ve had a conversation about what their role is gonna be and things like that, I mean one you need to operate that way as a coaching staff, keep it real with them. But they’ve been tremendous, you know? Tell them with love, tell them the truth, and let’s go to work.”
Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald on the Competition for Playing Time Across the Team
Steph Chambers/GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 07: Ricky Pearsall #1 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts in front of Riq Woolen #27 of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter during the game at Lumen Field on September 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
“He has, he has,” Macdonald said, agreeing with a reporter commenting on LB Drake Thomas’s strong play. “I think you’d agree with me, he had a great training camp. And when put in those positions in preseason games he produced, and I thought he did that on Sunday.”
“Look, like we’re going to have competition on our team. I mean, you start saying, ‘this guy’s the guy,’ and we don’t want to operate like that. You fall into a trap you’ve made. Not saying our guys think that, but we want a sense of urgency that we’re competing all the time. You know, I’m looking at [DT Leonard Williams] right here, but like this guy’s…I’m putting him up next to anybody else in the league, but he still knows when it’s time to rush he’s gotta produce. Because we’ve got guys who want opportunities too.”
“And so it’s the same thing with the defensive line, it’s the same thing with our offensive line. Same thing at linebacker, we’re seeing the same thing right now with Riq. So it’s great man, it means our guys are getting better. It just tells you we have multiple people who’ve earned rights to play. And that’s better for us, people are going to get better from the competition.”
Riq Woolen’s Up-and-Down Seattle Seahawks Career
Woolen entered the league as a fifth-round pick back in 2022. He was one of the most athletic prospects in the draft, but his inconsistent play in college at UTSA gave teams pause.
The Seahawks took a chance on him, and he immediately produced, tallying six interceptions as a rookie. His play as been more of a mixed bag in the years since, however, with just five interceptions since his rookie season. Now on the final year of his rookie contract, his future in Seattle is uncertain, especially if he loses his starting job.
Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald Gives Cryptic 2-Word Answer on Riq Woolen