Prioritizing depth in the secondary for their season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks announced veteran cornerback Artie Burns and safety Marquise Blair have been elevated from the practice squad and will be available to suit up in Week 1.

For most of the offseason program and training camp, Burns rotated in with the first-team defense in the slot when starting cornerback Devon Witherspoon slid back outside and looked to be a lock to make the 53-man roster as a rotational reserve and special teams contributor. However, he exited Seattle’s preseason finale on a cart with a toe injury and ultimately, as a vested veteran who avoided waivers, the team was able to release him and quickly re-sign him to the practice squad.

Coming off an injury-marred 2022 season where he only played in three games, Burns gave the Seahawks quality reps in a reserve role last season while logging extensive action in the slot for the first time in his NFL career. Stepping up with Coby Bryant and Witherspoon banged up at different times during the course of the season, per Pro Football Focus, he allowed less than 10 yards per reception and no touchdowns while producing a pair of pass breakups in eight games where he saw defensive snaps.

By choosing to elevate Burns for Week 1, coach Mike Macdonald and his staff will have a bit more flexibility moving Witherspoon to different positions, as the Seahawks only have five cornerbacks currently on the 53-man roster and none of the other four players have NFL experience in the slot. When in nickel and dime packages on Sunday, depending on where Witherspoon lines up, he could see plenty of playing time rotating in as a situational slot defender.

Formerly a second-round pick by Seattle back in 2019, Blair’s once-promising career has been derailed by injuries over the past several seasons. A torn ACL limited him to two games in 2020, and after making a lengthy recovery from reconstructive knee surgery, he fractured his knee cap after playing just six games in 2021 and missed the rest of the season.

Unable to stand out in a deep safety group in training camp in 2022, the Seahawks released Blair and he spent a brief cup of tea with the Panthers that season, playing in three games with a single tackle. He didn’t play at all last season after tearing his Achilles during offseason training, putting his career on the ropes.

However, Blair once again worked his way back from a significant injury and Seattle brought him in for a workout last month. Impressed by what they saw, the team signed him to a one-year, veteran minimum contract and he wound up playing in all three preseason games, producing nine tackles, a quarterback pressure, and a pass breakup.

Though Blair didn’t make the Seahawks initial roster, Macdonald and his staff thought enough of his performance last month to warrant retaining him on the practice squad. Now, more than two years after the team let him go, he will have a chance to make an impact on special teams and will provide extra depth at strong safety with starter Rayshawn Jenkins coming back from a calf injury, bringing his career full circle.

The Seahawks and Denver Broncos square off at Lumen Field in Seattle this Sunday to kick off the regular season. For two teams who currently play in separate conferences, these franchises have tons of history together.

Let’s dive into some facts and figures that flesh out what this matchup is and what it has been in the past. There are some key stats that could be part of Seattle’s strategy to come out with a season-opening win.

55

The number of matchups between these two franchises, dating back to 1977. In fact, the Seahawks have played against the Broncos more than any other NFL franchise. Of course, this is due to them sharing a division in the old AFC West until 2002. The Broncos own the series, 35-22. Of course, one of those wins for Seattle came in Super Bowl XLVIII.

17

The amount of points the Seahawks scored against the Broncos with Geno Smith under center. The Seahawks won that game, 17-16, in Russell Wilson’s return to Seattle. That was Geno Smith’s first start in the new era in Seattle. With the Broncos coming into town with offensive guru Sean Payton at head coach, it’s likely Seattle will need to score more than 17 to beat them this time. Ryan Grubb’s offense seems revving to go.

0

The amount of times the Seahawks have played against a rookie quarterback in Week 1, until now. Bo Nix gets the start for Denver, fresh off of being the 12th overall pick in April’s draft. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald will surely try to take advantage of Nix’s lack of NFL experience with his defensive strategy. The Seahawks should use exotic blitzes and disguised coverages. However, Nix is also not your average rookie quarterback. He set an FBS record with 61 career starts at Oregon and Auburn.

74%

That was Denver’s run-block win rate last season, which was third-best in the NFL. The Broncos weren’t able to run the ball much last season, given they trailed in games often. Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz was one of the best run-blocking offensive linemen in football last season. Meanwhile, the Seahawks were putrid against the run, allowing the second-most rushing yards in the entire NFL. Seattle’s turnaround on defense needs to start with an improved run defense.

5.0

The Broncos allowed 5.0 yards per rush last season, which was dead last in the NFL. The Seahawks should be able to run the ball against this team. The matchup might be decided by who can show the most improvement in defending the run.

4

The amount of years in a row the Seahawks have had a different starting center to open the season. With the arrival of Connor Williams, they hope those days of turmoil are over. Even though he is signed for just one season, Williams is the most talented center they have had since Max Unger. Perhaps more stability at the spearhead position of the offensive line will lead to a more steady run game.

2

Sean Payton has won his last two games coaching against Seattle at Lumen Field. The Saints came into Seattle in 2019 and left victorious with Teddy Bridgewater guiding the offense. Then, in 2021, the Saints spoiled a home Monday Night Football game in Seattle. Jameis Winston threw for a touchdown and ran for 40 yards. Seattle mustered just 219 total yards.

Sean Payton is 6-3 overall coaching against the Seahawks.

52

That’s 52 allowed sacks for the Broncos’ offensive line last season. That ranked 27th in the NFL. The Seahawks need to pressure the rookie Bo Nix into making rookie-type mistakes. The crowd will be ferocious. The defense needs to feed off of that to get pressure on Nix and fluster the offense.

KENT, Wash. – A new photo posted to Reddit on Friday shows the infamous “Belltown Hellcat” on the back of a tow truck in Kent.

The owner of the Hellcat, 21-year-old Miles Hudson, was previously ordered by a Seattle judge to stop driving his modified Dodge Charger on public streets. Hudson’s vehicle is known for its loud exhaust, which has woken up many Seattle residents as he sped through the Belltown neighborhood late at night.

The picture of the towed Belltown Hellcat was posted to the r/Seattle subreddit just after 3:30 p.m., with user shynips titling the post, “F— you Miles!”

The user claimed they spotted the Hellcat being towed on Talbot Road in Kent.

Hudson also had an Instagram profile where he posted videos of him driving recklessly throughout the city, gaining a large following. In response, a judge restricted his social media use, requiring him to cease posting to his Instagram or streaming on Twitch while under litigation.

It’s currently unknown if the vehicle was being impounded, as it was spotted on the Ballard Bridge last week, in violation of his court order.

Hudson was previously arrested in August on a $25,000 bench warrant issued by Renton Municipal Court, in connection to charges of stalking, disclosing intimate images without consent (revenge porn) and reckless driving.

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