9/23/2026
(Seattle, WA) The Seattle Seahawks are pleased at sitting at 2-0 but it has not been without challenges beginning with the loss of starting QB Sam Darnold in the opening game. Other injured players trying to get back on the field from Zach Charbonnet to Nick Emmanwori. In this edition of “Hawk Notes” updates on all three plus other notes of interest as the Hawks get ready to travel to Washington DC to face the Commanders.
Macdonald vs Quinn
When the decision was made to move on from Pete Carroll in January of 2024, General Manager John Schneider had an idea of the type of coach he wanted to fill the role. He wasn’t going to be rushed into making the most important hire of any team.
Fans of course have little patience and the 12’s exploded with a big call for the Seahawks to go back in time and bring back Dan Quinn as the new Head Coach. Quinn was the defensive coordinator for Seattle during their first Super Bowl win in 2013. Many related Quinn to the dominating defense “the Legion of Boom” to Quinn.
What many don’t remember was that Gus Bradley was Carroll’s DC from 2009-2012 and left to take the Jacksonville Jags Head Coaching position in 2013. But it wasd he and Carroll along with Schneider who built the legendary defense. When Bradley left, Carroll elevated Quinn who was a defensive assistant to DC for 2013. Quinn stayed for another season and was the DC when Seattle lost that heartbreaking Superbowl following the 2014 season.
Quinn went on to be the Head Coach in Atlanta but was fired mid-way through his 5th year. Quinn then headed for Dallas as the DC for Mike McCarthey before deciding to take another shot at a head coaching position.
In January of 2024, Schneider began interviewing many candidates including Quinn but unlike most other teams who hurry the process believing they can’t afford to waste time, Schneider showed patience because he knew the type of coach he wanted to fill the position.
He had his eye on one particular man to fill the Seahawks Head Coaching position, Mike Macdonald. Macdonald was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens at the time. The problem was the Ravens were in the play-offs and as long as they were playing any communication was limited if at all and depending on the coaches contract and whether or not the Ravens would allow any interviewing during the play-offs.
Schneider held firm in his belief of who was the right choice and had to wait for the Ravens to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game before he could officially move forward. Despite pressure from fans and local media he knew who he wanted and signed Macdonald on January 31, 2024.
Hard to criticize Schneider’s process since signing Macdonald he’s gone 29-10 and won the Super Bowl. We have no inside information but clearly Schneider was most interested in finding the exact fit he wanted and did not give in to simply hiring what was popular from outside influences.
This will be the second time Quinn willk face his old team. The first time was in 2016 when he brought his Atlanta Falcons to Seattle and lost a tight one 26-24. This will be the first time the Seahawks will be the visitor facing Quinn as a Head Coach.
Darnold expected back at Practice on Wednesday
Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald told reporters on Monday that he expects to see Sam Darnold back on the practice field on Wednesday. This doesn’t mean they are aiming for Darnold to play this weekend in Washington against the Commanders but the beginning of getting him back ready to play sooner than later.
Macdonald said, “Right now the plan is for him to be out there in some capacity, and we’ll go from there,” Macdonald said. “How much? We’ll see from here to Wednesday what that number is, but right now that’s the goal.”
Darnold’s injury turned out to be less significant than initially feared, and Macdonald said after the game that “the timetable has shifted quite drastically, frankly.”
Running Back room is thin right now
Zach Charbonnet continues to re-hab and is focused on getting back to the field in week 5. He is on the physically unable to perform list, which means he must miss the first four games of the season, but is eligible to return to practice starting this week.
Macdonald is optimistic that Charbonnet is on track, “We want to try to maximize the amount of time he can practice to give us the opportunity for him to be ready to go back,” Macdonald said. “I’m not saying that we’re going to max all the practices, but that’s something we want to be able to consider, how much practice time it’s going to take and things like that, so that’s something that we’re still working through.”
Meatime, first round draft pick Jadarian Price got the start against Arizona but did not finish the game. With the game out of touch, the Hawks pulled Price with a chest/shoulder injury. Macdonald said it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury. Coach said they will montior it throughout the week but it doesn’t appear to be a long term issue. A decision on whether or not he will play on Sunday will be made later in the week.
This leaves two healthy running backs in the room at the time of this writing in Emanuel Wilson and George Holani. Wilson was aquired over the off-season when Green Bay declined to sign him. Wilson showed up in Atizona rushing for more than 90 yards leading the running attack.
Emmanwori back on the field
A welcome sight for the brilliant Seahawk defense was seeing Nick Emmanwori back in the line-up. It was a minimal number of plays but Emmanwori who has been re-habbing an ankle issue in which he had surgery just prior to training camp. Emmanwori played 9 snaps against Arizona and Macdonald said he came out feeling good and the plan is to ramp up is presence on the field.
Commanders hurting
This week’s opponent the Washington Commanders will host the Hawks with a 10am kick-off. But the Commanders will be without their starting QB Jayden Daniels who dislocated his left elbow for the second time. He dislocated it last season and cost him multiple weeks. He did not have surgery and when he went to brace himself from going down against the Dallas Cowboys last week his elbow slipped out of it’s socket again.
Washington will start Marcus Mariota at QB. Mariota filled in for Daniels last season mnaking 8 starts and going 2-6.
www.West42Sports.com