Quarterback Sam Darnold fully participated in Seattle Seahawks practice on Thursday, marking his first complete session since sustaining a left oblique injury three weeks prior. Meanwhile, safety Nick Emmanwori missed practice due to an ankle injury sustained during midweek training. Despite the setback, both Emmanwori and head coach Mike Macdonald remain optimistic about his availability for Super Bowl LX taking place this Sunday.
Details on Nick Emmanwori’s Ankle Injury and Recovery Outlook
Emmanwori suffered a low-ankle sprain after rolling his ankle late in Wednesday’s practice, leading the Seahawks to hold him out on Thursday as a precaution. The injury was confirmed by Kalyn Kahler of the Pro Football Writers’ Association, with both Emmanwori and head coach Mike Macdonald expressing confidence ahead of Sunday’s game.
Just a little mishap that happened. Just rolled my ankle, I just didn’t finish practice, that was it.
Emmanwori said.
I expect to play on Sunday. Feel good. Training staff have a good plan for me. Everything good, making sure I’m just rehabbing good.
Emmanwori added.
Macdonald outlined the team’s cautious approach to Emmanwori’s recovery, highlighting that while he was expected to participate in a walkthrough earlier that day, the decision was made to keep him out of full practice.
Right where we want to be,
Macdonald said.
He’s doing great and moving around. Got to make sure we handle it the right way. Probably going to be over-careful and over-cautious at this point to make sure we’re rolling going into the weekend.
Sam Darnold’s Status After Oblique Injury
Darnold’s return is significant given the risk his earlier oblique strain posed. He initially tweaked the muscle three weeks ago during a Thursday practice before the Divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite the injury, Darnold played in both the 49ers game and the subsequent NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams without limitations, but Thursday’s full practice participation marks a return to normalcy in his preparation.
Also noteworthy is backup tackle Josh Jones’s comeback, participating fully after being limited by knee and ankle issues since the regular season finale. Only left tackle Charles Cross and fullback Robbie Ouzts remained limited during Thursday’s session. Cross, despite his foot injury, played in the NFC Championship and is expected to continue playing. Ouzts’s neck problem, however, forced him to miss that game and leaves his status uncertain as the team hopes to see improvement before Sunday.
We hope so,
Macdonald said regarding Ouzts’s injury.
It’s got to calm down so we can have a better feel for how it’s going to look.
Additional Injury and Practice Notes
Linebacker Harold Landry was the only Seattle player to miss practice Thursday completely, following a limited session the previous day. On the New England Patriots side, linebacker Robert Spillane returned to practice after an ankle injury sustained during the AFC Championship game. Spillane’s participation signals increased readiness with just days remaining before the Super Bowl.
Comprehensive Seattle Seahawks Practice Overview
On Thursday, the Seahawks conducted a 1 hour and 47-minute practice without pads at San Jose State University under sunny skies, with temperatures around 74 degrees. The practice began with a stretching routine at 2 p.m. and proceeded through both position-specific drills and team scrimmages. Players including wide receiver Jake Bobo, linebacker Ernest Jones IV, and safety Julian Love fully participated despite minor ailments. Other players such as DeMarcus Lawrence, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Leonard Williams rested for non-injury-related reasons.
Left tackle Charles Cross and fullback Robbie Ouzts remained limited in practice due to their injuries. Coaching and training staff prioritized managing workloads ahead of the high-stakes Super Bowl match.
Practice was conducted to a high-energy playlist featuring bands like Creed, Linkin Park, and Metallica, which contributed to an upbeat atmosphere. Macdonald noted the team has embraced classic rock on Thursdays following a request from veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
I do prefer the music on Thursdays compared to Wednesdays,
Macdonald commented.
Thankful to Cooper Kupp on that motion. He asked for more classic rock on Thursdays, and we obliged.
During drills, players showed signs of looseness and motivation. Running back Velus Jones Jr. was heard singing along to “Eye of the Tiger,” and both players and coaches danced during a break when the song “Percolator” played. On one notable series with the first-team defense facing the scout team offense, defensive end Leonard Williams and linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence raised their arms toward the sidelines, mimicking crowd noise to hype the group.
Wednesday is normally more of a work day for us,
Macdonald remarked.
Today is more of a energetic- a normal Thursday. Guys did a great job.
Media affiliates such as NBC analysts and sideline reporters were present during Seattle’s practice ahead of their production meetings.
Although Cooper Kupp broke down the team’s performance post-practice, Macdonald declined to disclose specifics, indicating the conversation was reserved for the team.
We’ll leave that with our guys, but he was great,
Macdonald said.
The Seahawks are scheduled to practice again on Friday at 12:05 p.m. as they continue final preparations for the Super Bowl.
New England Patriots’ Practice Highlights as They Prepare for Super Bowl
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots held their Thursday practice at Stanford Stadium, focusing on red zone situations and two-minute drills under the leadership of quarterback Drake Maye. Their 75-minute up-tempo session incorporated nine targeted plays concentrating on critical scoring opportunities late in games.
Although the team did not use traditional stadium crowd noise to simulate Super Bowl conditions, head coach Mike Vrabel requested the music volume be turned up to help replicate game day energy. The playlist included “Be Legendary” by Pop Evil, setting an intense tone for practice.
We’ll have to be ready for anything that comes up,
Vrabel said.
Maye demonstrated accuracy and command during the red zone series but struggled during a subsequent, sloppy two-minute drill that emphasized the need for improved execution on game day.
We’ll have to have better execution on Sunday, without a doubt,
Vrabel acknowledged.
There’s going to be mistakes, they just can’t pile up and we can’t let one mistake turn into another mistake and another mistake. So it’s going to be about how we regroup, and I thought they did that.
Maye returned to full practice despite remaining on the injury report with a right shoulder issue. Linebacker Robert Spillane participated in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday’s session due to an ankle injury, while linebacker Harold Landry missed practice entirely, continuing to manage a knee issue.
Additional Patriots players listed as limited included right tackle Morgan Moses and backup offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer was in full practice.
Injury Reports and Player Availability Insights
The Seahawks have two players remaining limited in practice heading into the Super Bowl: left tackle Charles Cross (foot) and fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck). Cross’s injury has not restricted his participation in recent games and is unlikely to prevent his involvement on Sunday. Ouzts’s neck injury has been more problematic, causing him to miss the NFC Championship game and limiting him during all five practices since.
The Patriots faced uncertainty with linebacker Harold Landry sidelined for their latest practice, while Robert Spillane’s return marks positive progress. Additionally, Patriots’ key offensive linemen and defensive players shuffle their limited statuses but continue to prepare fully for the upcoming contest.
Significance of These Final Practice Updates Ahead of Super Bowl LX
The late-stage practice information offers crucial insight into each team’s health and readiness as they approach Super Bowl LX. Sam Darnold’s return to full practice should bolster Seattle’s offensive confidence, especially after his earlier oblique injury. Nick Emmanwori’s ankle sprain introduces a potential concern in Seattle’s secondary, yet the team’s cautious optimism signals he will join the starting lineup.
On the New England side, managing injuries to key defensive players like Landry and reintegrating Robert Spillane could impact their defensive effectiveness. Both teams appear to be carefully balancing player health with the need for thorough game preparation, emphasizing the importance of strategic recovery and management.
With practice routines increasingly focused on energy and team cohesion, as well as managing personnel health, both the Seahawks and the Patriots are maintaining disciplined approaches as they finalize their game plans for what promises to be a fiercely contested Super Bowl.
