Seahawks place Reed, Young on IR; elevate White III, O'Connell for Cardinals game

The Seattle Seahawks are placing defensive tackle Jarran Reed and wide receiver Dareke Young on injured reserve, adding to the team's growing injury woes ahead of their upcoming game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Why it matters: The absence of key players like Reed and Young impacts the Seahawks' depth and performance as they prepare for a crucial matchup.

• Reed's experience in the defensive line has been vital, particularly after he played through a wrist injury last week. His additional thumb injury designation means that he will miss at least the next four games.
• Young served as a reserve wide receiver, and his quad injury forces the Seahawks to further rely on untested talent at a critical position.

What’s new: The Seahawks have made several roster adjustments in response to these injuries.

• They signed Cody White and Quinton Bohanna off their practice squad to bolster their receiving corps and defensive line, respectively.
• Rookie receiver Ricky White III and linebacker Patrick O’Connell have been elevated from the practice squad for immediate contribution against the Cardinals.

Yes, but: While the Seahawks are facing challenges, their strategic depth could mitigate the impact of these losses.

• With Reed sidelined, the team will need to lean on other defensive linemen to step up, which could shift their defensive scheme from a traditional 4-3 alignment to more varied fronts depending on personnel availability.
• The elevation of young players like Ricky White III provides an opportunity for new talent to emerge, potentially injecting energy into the offense.

What to watch: The Seahawks offensive strategy will likely evolve as they adapt to missing key receivers.

• With multiple injuries among their wideouts, including Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton being noted as doubtful for their respective teams, both squads may find themselves scrambling to fill gaps.
• The effectiveness of Seattle's offensive schemes—whether they lean more towards the West Coast or spread offenses—could be contingent upon the performances of newly added players and their ability to create separation.

The bottom line: As the Seahawks prepare for their matchup against Arizona, the absence of Reed and Young emphasizes the importance of depth in the NFL.

• Injuries are an unfortunate reality of professional football, and how the Seahawks navigate this challenge could define their season trajectory as they look to remain competitive in a tough NFC West.