Seahawks Rookie Nick Emmanwori Confirms He'll Play in Super Bowl

The 22-year-old safety suffered a minor ankle injury in practice but says he'll be good to go for the big game.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:15pm

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Seattle Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori suffered a minor ankle injury during practice this week, putting his status for Super Bowl LX in doubt. However, Emmanwori has now confirmed that he will play in the big game, saying it was just a 'scare' and that the injury is not as severe as a previous ankle issue that caused him to miss three games earlier this season.

Why it matters

Emmanwori has been a key part of the Seahawks' defense this season, making an immediate impact as a second-round draft pick. His availability for the Super Bowl is crucial, as he will be tasked with helping contain the opposing offense in a high-stakes matchup.

The details

Emmanwori rolled his ankle towards the end of practice on Wednesday, walking with a slight limp afterwards. Head coach Mike Macdonald said it was a low ankle sprain, but that the team had a plan for the rookie to play in the Super Bowl. Emmanwori later confirmed that the injury was not as bad as a previous ankle issue that caused him to miss time earlier in the season, describing it as more of a 'scare' that caught him off guard.

  • Emmanwori suffered the ankle injury during practice on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
  • The Seahawks are set to play in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 9, 2026.

The players

Nick Emmanwori

A 22-year-old rookie safety for the Seattle Seahawks who has made an immediate impact this season, recording 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 11 pass deflections, and one interception in 14 games.

Mike Macdonald

The head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, it was just towards the end of practice, I just rolled my ankle, kind of like caught me off guard. Practice wasn't like nothing crazy or nothing. We weren't going hard out there, but just rolled it. And I'll be good to go for Sunday, so I'm looking forward to that.”

— Nick Emmanwori (Twitter)

“Yeah, it just kind of caught me off guard a little bit. Nobody really wants to get hurt or banged up during the Super Bowl week or any week at that. So it just kind of caught me off guard, just a little scared.”

— Nick Emmanwori (Twitter)

What’s next

The Seahawks will continue to monitor Emmanwori's ankle injury throughout the week, but the rookie has confirmed he will be ready to play in Super Bowl LX on Sunday.

The takeaway

Emmanwori's ability to bounce back quickly from this minor ankle scare and confirm his availability for the Super Bowl is a testament to his toughness and determination. The Seahawks will need his playmaking ability on defense as they look to win their second championship in franchise history.