Nick Emmanwori Underwent Ankle Surgery; Expected Back Week 1

On Monday, the Seahawks placed second-year safety Nick Emmanwori on the active/physically unable to perform list without any word as to what landed him there. That information came today as ESPN’s Brady Henderson reported that the starting defender had undergone ankle surgery. Per Henderson, Emmanwori will be forced to miss time in training camp, but he is expected to be back in time for Week 1 of the regular season.

Though Emmanwori’s rookie season came with many successes, it wasn’t without blemish. Before he established a consistent starting role on the league’s top defense and earned a Super Bowl ring in his first year of play, a high right ankle sprain threatened to put a stop to Emmanwori’s rookie campaign before it could even get off the ground. Subbing in during the defense’s first series of the season, he only logged four snaps before suffering the injury that would hold him out for the next three games.

Emmanwori was able to return in Week 5 and play at a high level. The South Carolina-product established himself as a versatile defender, making plays all over the field with 81 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, 11 passes defensed, and one interception.

Unfortunately, Emmanwori’s ankle became an issue a second time — this time, at the worst possible part of the year. Four days before the Super Bowl, he suffered a low right ankle sprain in practice but was able to play through the injury. In the biggest game of his life, Emmanwori was on the field for all but one of Seattle’s defensive snaps.

Following the victory, the Seahawks were aware that Emmanwori “might eventually require surgery,” according to Henderson. They allowed him to attempt to manage his ankle over the offseason, but continued soreness leading into camp convinced Emmanwori to “have an arthroscopic procedure…performed earlier this month.” The versatile safety will miss a good portion of the lead up to the season, but the team will be happy to have him back and healthy on opening day.