In advance of their meeting with the Commanders on Sunday, the Seahawks have placed safety Julian Love and tight end Eric Saubert on IR, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Love is dealing with a hamstring injury, while a calf issue will shelve Saubert. Both players will miss a minimum of four games.
Love hasn’t played since Week 4, but the 5-2 Seahawks held off on putting him on IR throughout October. With the team coming off its bye, Love suffered a setback this week, head coach Mike Macdonald said (per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). He’ll be out until at least Week 13 as a result.
After earning his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2023 and signing a three-year extension, Love was a 17-game starter for the first time in his career last season. He racked up 109 tackles, 12 passes defensed, and three interceptions along the way. Love recorded 18 tackles and a sack in three starts this year before the injury derailed his season.
The Love-less Seahawks have deployed Coby Bryant and Ty Okada as their top two safeties for most of 2025. Their pass defense, which will get two-time Pro Bowl corner Devon Witherspoon back from a three-game absence this week, ranks a strong 10th in the NFL.
After a season with the NFC West rival 49ers, Seubert signed a one-year pact with the Seahawks last offseason. He ranks third among Seahawks tight ends in snaps, trailing starter AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo, and has caught his only target for 12 yards.
Along with the IR placements of Love and Saubert, the Seahawks made a handful of other moves Saturday, Dugar reports. The team activated fullback Robbie Ouzts, who had been on IR since Sept. 24, and signed safety Jerrick Reed II from the practice squad to the active roster. Additionally, wideouts Cody White and Ricky White III received standard elevations from the practice squad. As Dugar notes, calling up the Whites may bode poorly for receiver Cooper Kupp, who’s questionable for Week 9 with heel and hamstring injuries.
