Rams 2022 Opponent Breakdown: Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks opened the first four weeks of the season going 2-2. Then everything changed in Week 5.

Facing the Los Angeles Rams at home, Seattle saw quarterback Russell Wilson sustain a finger injury that would require surgery and sideline him for the next three games. In that same game, running back Chris Carson – the Seahawks’ leading rusher each of the previous three seasons – suffered a neck injury that would require surgery and ultimately sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Seattle fell to L.A. 26-17, the first of three straight losses before rebounding with a 31-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 3-5 record at their Week 9 bye. However, the struggles would continue, with another three-game losing streak coming out of the bye week. That 3-8 record was ultimately too much to overcome, and the Seahawks would finish 7-10 overall.

If there was one bright spot to the season, it was the late emergence of running back and 2018 first-round pick Rashaad Penny. The San Diego State product eventually took advantage of Carson’s absence and broke out with 16 carries for 137 yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Texans in Week 14. Overall, he amassed 671 of his 749 rushing yards and all six of his rushing touchdowns on the season across the final five weeks of the season.

The two biggest were moving on from franchise pillars in Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner.

On March 12, the Seahawks released Wagner, parting ways with a steady and calming presence in the middle of their defense over the last 10 seasons.

Four days later, Wilson was traded to the Broncos in exchange for tight end Noah Fant, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive end Shelby Harris, 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, 2022 and 2023 second-round picks and a 2022 fifth-round pick.

The coaching staff also underwent adjustments, with longtime defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis and offensive line coach Mike Solari being relieved of…