Seahawks ‘confident’ that rookie DB Nick Emmanwori will play in Super Bowl LX despite ankle sprain

The Seattle Seahawks remain confident that rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori will be on the field for Super Bowl LX, even after he suffered a low right ankle sprain during practice earlier this week.

Head coach Mike Macdonald said Thursday that the team has no expectation Emmanwori will miss Sunday’s matchup against the New England Patriots. “He rolled his ankle yesterday,” Macdonald said. “He’s got a low-ankle sprain. Going to do the walkthrough today. Not sure how extensive, if at all, he’s going to practice, but he’s confident. Got a great plan. Fully expect him to play.”

The injury occurred late in Wednesday’s practice session; Emmanwori was defending a pass when he went down, prompting teammates and coaches to check on him. He was able to leave the field under his own power, though video later circulated showing him limping and favoring the ankle. Emmanwori downplayed the incident a day later, explaining, “Just a little mishap that happened. Just rolled my ankle, I just didn’t finish practice, that was it. 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.”  The second-round pick battled a more serious high-ankle sprain to the same ankle earlier this season, which cost him three games in September. He said this injury feels different. “Nobody really wants to get hurt or banged during the Super Bowl week or any week, at that,” Emmanwori said. “It just caught me off guard. It was just a little scare.”

An MRI conducted Wednesday night ruled out any serious damage, bringing relief to both the player and the coaching staff. “Yeah, super relieved. Doc told me I’d be good. Just super young, healthy, so I’ll be good to go. Macdonald also noted that the team plans to be cautious in the final days leading up to the game: “Right where we want to be. 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.”

Emmanwori has been one of Seattle’s most impactful rookies, recording 81 total tackles, 11 pass breakups, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception during the regular season, then added eight tackles, four passes defensed and a fumble recovery in two playoff games. A finalist for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, Emmanwori acknowledged the honor but kept his focus on the bigger prize. “For an individual award, that would be huge to add to my young career,” he said. “But right now … I think a Super Bowl ring would be way better.”

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