The Seahawks benched Woolen for a violation on the opening play

SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks have benched former Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen for the opener of their loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.

“It was just a matter of team rules,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “We did it right and decided to do what was best for the team and we will move on.”

Approached in the locker room after Macdonald’s post-game press conference, Woolen said he was only answering questions from a specific member of the media and that the only reporter he spoke to did not ask him about the bench change.

Woolen resumed his usual role as an all-rounder after the opening drive. He finished the game with two tackles and three passes defended, including one on third down in the fourth quarter where he pushed the ball out of the hands of tight end TJ Hockenson, forcing a punt that preceded Seattle’s touchdown drive. Woolen was cited for a holding ticket, but it was declined.

“I felt like he had a good game,” Macdonald said. “We’ll see what options there were. But he had a couple pass breakups, so that was good.”

Woolen was behind in coverage on Justin Jefferson’s game-winning touchdown catch, although it appeared he was expecting excessive help from safety Julian Love, who didn’t arrive in time.

“They played a great game,” Macdonald said. “I think we were on that side in Cover 2. They threw a seven-cut and we just couldn’t get there.”

The short bench press was another low point in a difficult third season for Woolen, who made the Pro Bowl as a fifth-round rookie in 2022 but has had ups and downs since then.

Macdonald gave a candid assessment Monday of how Woolen played in Seattle’s loss to the Green Bay Packers last week, when, as the closest defender in coverage, he allowed three catches on four targets for 53 yards and a touchdown. He was also reported for rough handling of the passer and pass interference.

“It wasn’t Riq’s best game, but he’s a guy we can continue to rely on and trust to make plays for us and protect his area of ​​the field,” Macdonald said Monday. I think Riq is coping well. He does a lot of good things. If the ball isn’t going his way, there’s a reason they’re not throwing it his way. But there are only a few plays a game right now where we want more from him, and he knows it. He’s the first to tell you.

Macdonald later said Woolen had to concentrate on every play.

“It’s a play-to-play mentality,” the coach said Wednesday. “When he’s stuck, I think he’s as good as it gets. And when it isn’t so stuck, some technical errors become apparent. But that has nothing to do with his abilities. It’s all about the approach beforehand.” -snap.”

Woolen was asked this week about public criticism of his piece.

“I don’t use foul language anymore,” he said, according to The News Tribune. “I really don’t care. I mean, if you do good, they will love you. If you do bad things, they will talk about you.”

As of Sunday, Woolen ranked 29th in completion percentage allowed (58.3%) and 77th in passer rating allowed (98th) among the 115 players who were the closest defenseman to at least 40 goals in Week 15, according to ESPN Research ,2).

Woolen has 13 passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble in 13 games this season after missing two due to an ankle injury in October.