LiveSeahawks vs. Broncos: Live updates, score, how to watch ‘Thursday Night Football’

by · The Seattle Times

A short week provides the Seahawks with a good reason to have a short memory.

Following their turnover-laden home loss to the 49ers on Sunday, the Seahawks are already back in action tonight, visiting the Broncos in Denver on “Thursday Night Football.”

Kickoff from Empower Field at Mile High is at 5:15 p.m. Here’s how to watch the game on TV.

At 3-2, the Seahawks have the same record they had last season entering Week 6. Crucially, they’ll have star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, despite an ankle injury. But they will miss starting linebacker Drake Thomas.

Against an underwhelming Denver defense, the Seattle offense will be aiming to be much more careful holding onto the football. That starts with quarterback Sam Darnold, who has five interceptions in three games, and ends with a running back group that fumbled twice and will feature the same cast of ballcarriers.

Can the Seahawks leave Denver and start a mini-bye with a win? Follow along below for live updates throughout tonight’s game.

Key Updates

KEY UPDATE

| 3:54 pm
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Henry among Seahawks inactives

The Seahawks will have just three running backs active for tonight’s game as Robert Henry Jr., is among the team’s inactives.

The other inactives are cornerback Avery Smith, receiver Montorie Foster Jr., defensive lineman Brandon Pili, quarterback Jalen Milroe and linebackers Drake Thomas and Chazz Surratt.

Thomas (ankle) and Surratt (calf) had already been ruled out because of injuries.

The rest are healthy scratches.

Milroe will again serve as the emergency third quarterback.

Henry being inactive means the Seahawks' three running backs will be Emanuel Wilson, George Holani and Velus Jones Jr.

Henry was signed off Washington’s practice squad on Oct. 6, but he has not been active for either game.

The Seahawks are hoping to get Zach Charbonnet back for their next game on Oct. 25 against the Chiefs, which will change the dynamic of the running back spot.

—Bob Condotta
3:06 pm
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JSN vs. Denver secondary a good matchup to watch

Good news for the Seahawks came Wednesday that receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was not on the game status report and considered good to go against the Broncos.

Smith-Njigba suffered an ankle injury late in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers and was listed as limited in practice Monday and Tuesday. The Seahawks didn’t actually practice either day, so the reports were estimations. But it seemed somewhat ominous nonetheless.

Smith-Njigba has yet to miss a game as a Seahawk and it didn’t figure the ankle injury that he played with to finish out the 49ers game would keep him out.

That sets up what could be a particularly advantageous matchup for the Seahawks. 

While Smith-Njigba playing keeps the Seahawks receiving corps at full strength, Denver’s secondary is beat up — most significantly, star cornerback Patrick Surtain will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury.

SumerSports noted today how that could help the Seahawks, writing: “With Patrick Surtain II out, expect less man and more zone coverage from the Broncos tonight. That will benefit JSN, who is the most efficient WR against zone coverage since the start of last season."

And wrote football analyst David Mendelson: “Happy Jaxon Smith-Njigba night to all those who celebrate. The Broncos are running man coverage at a sub-20% rate since the Pat Surtain injury Besides Zay Flowers, JSN has the top YPRR against zone coverage of any WR in the league at 4.45 I think he could go for 100+ tonight."

We’ll see if those predictions, well, comes to pass.

—Bob Condotta
2:58 pm
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What to watch as Seahawks face Broncos in Week 6

It’s not time to worry for the Seahawks, even if a two-game deficit to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West is far from ideal.

While they didn’t expect to be 3-2 at this point of the season, it’s the same record the Seahawks had last year after five games. And everyone involved knows what happened from there.

They know the kind of sloppy play — seven turnovers in their two losses — that has characterized most of their season can’t continue, beginning with Thursday night’s game at Denver.

“We’re hungry,” safety Julian Love said this week. “There’s a lot to correct, there’s a lot to improve. Everyone on that field has a play or two that they’re like, ‘I wish I had that one back.’ That’s never great. It’s never great when it’s everyone.”

READ MORE >>>

—Bob Condotta

KEY UPDATE

| 2:57 pm
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Seahawks at Broncos: How to watch on TV

The Seahawks face the Broncos on "Thursday Night Football" to kick off Week 6 of the NFL season.

Fans can watch the game nationally on Amazon Prime Video and in Seattle on FOX 13.

—Chris Cole
2:46 pm
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Seahawks elevate two from practice squad

The Seahawks elevated two players off the practice squad for Thursday night’s game against the Broncos -- linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo and receiver Irv Charles.

Ciarlo adds depth at inside linebacker with Drake Thomas ruled out with an ankle injury. Charles is expected to have a significant role on special teams, likely as a gunner, a role that had been filled for a few games by rookie Julian Neal, who was placed on injured reserve last week with a hamstring injury.

The game will be the first for both as Seahawks. Ciarlo was signed to the practice squad on Sept. 30. He played one game last year with Buffalo, appearing on special teams.

Charles spent the last four years with the Jets, appearing in 25 games. He was acquired in a trade in May and expected to compete for a role as a gunner on special teams as the Seahawks sought to replace the production given last year by Dareke Young, who signed as a free agent with the Raiders.

—Bob Condotta