The Seattle Seahawks made a surprising move on Sunday, benching rising star cornerback Riq Woolen for the opening drive of their game against the Minnesota Vikings. The decision stemmed from Woolen violating an undisclosed team rule, according to head coach Mike Macdonald.
Macdonald addressed the situation after the Seahawks’ loss, saying, “That was just a team rule thing. We made it right and that’s what we decided to do, what was best for the team, and we’ll move forward.”
A Promising Career with Growing Pains
Woolen, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, quickly emerged as a standout for Seattle. He earned a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie with his impressive coverage skills and playmaking ability. However, his third season has been marked by inconsistency.
Ups and Downs in Year Three
Despite flashing his talent at times, Woolen has struggled to maintain the elite level of play he demonstrated as a rookie. In last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, he surrendered three catches on four targets for 53 yards and a touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage. Woolen also drew flags for roughing the passer and pass interference in that game.
It wasn’t Riq’s best game, but he’s a guy that we’re going continue to lean on and trust to make plays for us and lock down his area of the field.
– Coach Mike Macdonald on Woolen’s play against Green Bay
Macdonald emphasized that Woolen needs to maintain focus on every snap, saying “When he’s locked in, I think he’s as good as it gets. And then when he’s not as locked in, then that’s when some technique errors show up.”
The Vikings Game and Looking Ahead
After sitting out the first drive, Woolen played the rest of Sunday’s game in his usual every-down role. He recorded two tackles and three passes defensed, including a key third down breakup in the fourth quarter. However, Woolen was also in coverage on Justin Jefferson’s game-winning touchdown, where he appeared to be expecting safety help that never arrived.
The brief benching added another chapter to what has been a trying third year for the young cornerback. Woolen didn’t shy away from the criticism of his play this week, telling reporters bluntly “I really don’t care. I mean, when you do good, they gonna love you. When you do bad, they gonna talk about you.”
As the Seahawks look to bounce back in the final weeks of the season, they will need Woolen to regain his rookie form. The talent is undeniable, but as his coach noted, locking in on every play will be key for the 24-year-old to fulfill his immense potential and help lead a proud Seahawks secondary back to dominance.
