The Seattle Seahawks have suffered a season-ending injury blow to one of their promising young offensive weapons.
Second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo is undergoing shoulder surgery Thursday, Oct. 22, and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the development Thursday, dispatching a disappointing verdict on Seattle’s former second-round draft pick.
“Source: Seahawks TE Elijah Arroyo is undergoing shoulder surgery today and will miss the rest of the season,” Schefter wrote.
The announcement lands just days before Seattle hosts the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in a highly anticipated Sunday Night Football matchup.
It also marks a sudden reversal from earlier expectations that Arroyo might return following a relatively brief absence.
Seahawks Lose Arroyo for Rest of 2026 Season
Arroyo succumbed to the shoulder injury during Seattle’s 17-14 loss to the Denver Broncos on October 15.
The 23-year-old exited during the second quarter and was initially listed as doubtful to return.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald revealed the next day that Arroyo was undergoing further examination to determine the severity of the injury.
“He’s getting some imaging and testing as we speak, so no update yet,” Macdonald said, per the team’s official website.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler subsequently reported October 19 that Arroyo was likely headed to injured reserve, which would require him to miss at least four games.
That outlook has now changed dramatically.
Instead of returning for Seattle’s late-season push, Arroyo will recover from surgery for the remainder of the campaign.
The setback is frustrating when pondering his draft pedigree.
Seattle selected the former Miami standout with the No. 50 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft following a breakout collegiate season in which he recorded 35 receptions, 590 yards and seven touchdowns.
Arroyo flashed as a rookie, catching 15 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown across 13 regular-season appearances.
A knee injury interrupted his debut year and sidelined him for the final four regular-season games, although he returned for Seattle’s championship-winning postseason run.
His second season was the moment to spring off of that foundation.
Instead, Arroyo managed just one reception for 17 yards in 2026 before his latest injury brought the season to a premature conclusion.
Seahawks Have Tight End Decision Following Arroyo Injury
Arroyo’s unavailability leaves Seattle without a young pass-catcher who was thought to develop into a bigger contributor.
Fortunately for the Seahawks, AJ Barner is the team’s starting tight end.
Barner has recorded 15 receptions for 138 yards through six games this season. He ended 2025 with 52 catches, 519 yards and six touchdowns.
Veteran Eric Saubert and Nick Kallerup also provide depth at the position.
And Seattle had additionally taken steps to fortify the group before Schefter’s announcement.
On Monday, Oct. 19, the Seahawks signed veteran tight end Josiah Deguara to their practice squad.
Deguara, a former third-round selection by the Green Bay Packers, has appeared in 78 NFL games with 12 starts. He has accumulated 53 receptions for 471 yards and three touchdowns during his career.
Seattle could make another move due to Arroyo’s season-ending diagnosis. But for now, laying the groundwork for Kansas City is happening without the young tight end.
The Seahawks sit at 3-3 in the wake of consecutive losses to Denver and the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks Receive Devastating News on Former 2nd-Round Pick Before Chiefs Game