Sam Darnold’s weapon in danger of missing the Colts’ Week 15 matchup
The The Seattle Seahawks are still on a mission to reclaim first place in the NFC West standings from the Los Angeles Rams, but they may not have one of their weapons in the lineup in a big Week 15 showdown against the Indianapolis Colts next week at Lumen Field.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroio is reportedly in danger of missing the Week 15 contest in Seattle with a lower-body injury, head coach Mike McDonald said Monday.
“This week is probably in jeopardy for him,” MacDonald said of Arroyo’s status, via The Athletic’s Michael-Sean Duggar .
Arroyo, 22, suffered a knee injury in the first half guest appearance last week against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and did not return to action. Also down with a knee injury in that contest was Seattle tackle Brandon Pili, though MacDonald noted after the game that the offensive lineman was expected to be fine.
A second round pick (50th overall) of the Seahawks in the 2025 NFL Draft, Arroyo failed to take the only target he saw in the Falcons game before his departure.
The former Miami Hurricanes tight end he doesn’t appear to be an integral part of Seattle’s Sam Darnold’s passing attack, having received more than two targets in just three games so far in his first year in the pros. On the season, Arroyo has 179 receiving yards and a touchdown on 15 receptions and 26 targets in 13 games with Seattle.
Meanwhile, AJ Barner has run away as the Seahawks’ best option in the tight end room, as he has 386 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 40 catches and 50 targets so far. The 23-year-old Barner can expect more snaps and a slightly bigger role in the offense if Arroyo is eventually forced to miss time. Either way, wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba remains the clear primary weapon for Darnold. Jackson Smith-Njigba showed that again in the 37-9 win over the Falcons, as he finished with 92 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven carries.
For now, Barner and undrafted rookie Nick Callerup are the only healthy tight ends on the Seahawks roster, with Eric Saubert on injured reserve with a calf problem.
2025-12-09 01:42:00
