IMAGE: Imagn Images

The Seahawks' early-season injury bug just bit the backfield - again. On the heels of running back Zach Charbonnet missing his first game since entering the league, Seattle will now be without rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts for at least a month. The team placed Ouzts on injured reserve after he suffered an ankle injury during Sunday’s dominant 44-13 win over the Saints.

That’s a tough blow for an offense trying to establish its identity on the ground. Through the first three games, Ouzts had stepped up as a tone-setter in Klint Kubiak’s system - not just as a lead blocker, but as a physical presence that helped open up lanes, wear down defenses, and bring a little extra edge to Seattle’s ground game.

If you watched the tape from Week 2 against the Steelers, you saw the kind of impact Ouzts can have. On one particular run, the fifth-round rookie bulldozed both of Pittsburgh’s inside linebackers with a single block - a highlight that had offensive linemen on the sideline hyped and the coaching staff raising eyebrows for all the right reasons. That’s not something you can coach - it’s instinct, power, and pure football IQ.

Now the Seahawks turn to backup Brady Russell, a former tight end who’s done most of his damage on special teams. Russell, who joined Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has been stashed on the 53-man roster largely because of his versatility - and it seems that move is paying off earlier than anyone expected.

“Number one, he's a phenomenal teammate,” said offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. “And a guy that we have a lot of confidence in that has already been a phenomenal player on (special) teams. He had a really great offseason with us as an offense, so looking forward to getting him on the field this week.”

Russell isn’t Ouzts - few fullbacks can move people off the ball the way Ouzts has so far - but he’s a capable fill-in with athleticism and the kind of effort coaches love. He understands the blocking scheme, and his past experience as a tight end gives him some flexibility in the passing game, too. He may not deliver the punishing blows that Ouzts did, but he'll give you competent reps and won’t shrink in the moment.

To patch up the depth chart, Seattle also signed safety D’Anthony Bell off the practice squad in a corresponding move. Bell made his presence felt with a blocked punt against New Orleans and has logged three tackles over 27 defensive snaps this year. While he won’t help the effort to reestablish the run game, Bell adds juice on special teams and another body for a defense that’s had to stay on its toes.

Make no mistake: losing Ouzts is a hit. He was starting to carve out a niche as more than just a rookie - he was a difference maker in the trenches. But credit to the Seahawks for seeing the value of depth at fullback and having a second option ready to go.

This is where Seattle’s coaching staff earns its check - finding ways to keep the ground game moving without one of its most physical enforcers. The system isn’t broken, but adjustments will be key. With Charbonnet working his way back and Russell stepping into a bigger role, the Seahawks need that offensive line and run scheme to keep pushing forward.

Injuries sting, but good teams adapt. This week - and for the next few - we’re about to find out just how resilient this Seahawks offense really is.