The Seattle Seahawks are heading into Week 6 battered, especially on the defensive side-and unfortunately, the hits just keep coming. After limping into Week 5 already carrying a laundry list of injuries, Seattle’s defense left its matchup against the Buccaneers even worse for wear.

The result? A 38-35 loss and yet another week of roster uncertainty.

It was a game full of blown assignments and big plays allowed-many of them coming at the hands of reserve defenders thrown into action. If Seattle wants to stop the bleeding before facing the surging Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday, it may need to do something it hasn’t done much of this season: look outside the current roster for help.

Let’s break down the three most practical personnel moves the Seahawks can consider right now-and why each could be a difference-maker in the short term.

1. Let Witherspoon Heal-Fully

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon’s health is a balancing act the Seahawks cannot afford to mishandle. He gave it a go in Week 4 after missing Weeks 2 and 3, but he wound up re-aggravating his injury-ultimately sidelining him again in Week 5. Now, there are reports he may practice this week, though nothing is definitive.

But here’s the thing: Witherspoon is too valuable to risk setting back further just to get him on the field for a week that could easily worsen his condition. He’s a cornerstone of the secondary when healthy, but another aggravation could turn a short-term absence into a long-term problem-one Seattle simply isn’t equipped to absorb.

If the IR clock is needed, so be it. Giving Witherspoon four weeks to fully recover might be the only way to ensure he’s ready for the grind of the back half of the season. It’s a move that’s both cautious and strategic.

2. Use the Cap Space-Bring in a Veteran Corner

Even if Riq Woolen returns to practice on Wednesday, that’s not a guarantee he’ll be ready for gameday. And if Witherspoon is still out, Seattle’s cornerback depth gets very thin, very fast. That’s where someone like Stephon Gilmore makes a whole lot of sense.

Yes, Gilmore is 35. No, he’s not the guy who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.

But he was productive last year with Minnesota-56 tackles, nine pass deflections, a pick, and 15 starts. That’s not just veteran experience, that’s proven output from a guy who knows how to prep for Sundays.

And Seattle has the cap space to make a move like this without having to maneuver too much. Gilmore wouldn’t be expected to play every snap, just to bring stability to a cornerback room that, right now, is leaning hard on younger players like Nehemiah Pritchett-who got thrown into the fire last week and promptly gave up a long touchdown on just his second defensive snap.

Gilmore offers good coverage instincts, leadership, and a physical presence. He doesn’t need to be a savior-just solid. And right now, solid would be a big upgrade.

3. Bolster the Pass Rush-Look at Walker

Sunday’s pass rush? It was, frankly, a non-factor.

With both DeMarcus Lawrence and Derick Hall possibly out for Week 6, the responsibility again falls to Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu. They’re talented, but they didn’t generate much pressure against Tampa Bay-and behind them are undrafted rookies in Jared Ivey and Connor O’Toole, who are still getting their NFL footing.

This is where DeMarcus Walker becomes a name worth circling. He was most recently with the Bears, where he racked up 77 tackles and seven sacks across 29 starts from 2023-2024. He’s not a Pro Bowl-caliber edge rusher, but he’s dependable and disruptive from multiple alignments and brings a veteran’s mindset to a front seven that right now looks sketchy at best.

The Seahawks can’t afford to keep letting opposing QBs get comfortable. Jacksonville won’t give away possessions like Tampa occasionally did-and the Seahawks need guys who can collapse a pocket and force some third-and-longs.

If signs continue to point toward absences along that defensive line, acting sooner rather than later could spell the difference between holding Jacksonville under 30… or another shootout Seattle’s injury-riddled defense can’t win.

Bonus Observation: Shaquill Griffin’s Role Remains a Mystery

Seattle has a veteran corner with starting experience already in the building-Shaquill Griffin. And yet, he hasn’t been elevated from the practice squad. That was surprising last week, considering how desperate the Seahawks were in the secondary against Tampa Bay.

Even if Woolen is cleared to play, it would be wise to bump Griffin up this week. He knows the system, he’s played big snaps before, and given the way secondary depth got chewed up last game, having another seasoned option available isn’t just a luxury-it’s a need.

Bottom Line

The Seahawks are 3-2, but they’re walking a tightrope right now-especially on defense. Sunday’s loss against Tampa Bay showed what happens when your depth is exposed and your top-end talent isn’t available. Jacksonville isn’t a soft landing spot-they’re a team with a dynamic offense and a quarterback who can make secondaries pay.

Seattle doesn’t need to overhaul the roster, but a few calculated moves-resting Witherspoon, adding a veteran like Gilmore, and firming up the pass rush with a player like Walker-could go a long way in keeping this defense competitive while the team fights through a brutal injury stretch.

If ever there was a time to be proactive, it’s right now.