Rashid Shaheed Ruled Out vs. Bears Amid Offensive Struggles

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed will not play in Monday’s game against the Chicago Bears due to a knee injury — his seventh appearance this season without a receiving touchdown.

Shaheed, 28, has 16 receptions on 30 targets for 163 yards and one rushing touchdown across seven games. He has not recorded a receiving touchdown since the Seahawks acquired him from the New Orleans Saints in November 2025.

The Seahawks re-signed Shaheed in March to a three-year contract after he contributed key special teams plays during their run to Super Bowl LX — including a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown in the divisional round win over the San Francisco 49ers. Across 12 games last season, including playoffs, he totaled 352 scrimmage yards and zero touchdowns on 29 touches.

His average of 29.3 scrimmage yards per game with Seattle is lower than his output with the Saints. In 42 games with New Orleans, he recorded 21 catches on passes thrown at least 25 yards beyond the line of scrimmage — 10 for touchdowns. With Seattle, he has two such receptions in 19 games.

Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said Shaheed’s involvement depends on how opponents defend fast-flow concepts and block to create perimeter space. Head coach Mike Macdonald said, “I think there’s more there,” adding that it is not due to lack of effort or trying, but part of the process of distributing the ball and finding better ways to get Shaheed the ball in his optimal range.

Quarterback Sam Darnold acknowledged missing opportunities on deep throws to Shaheed, including an overthrow on a go route in Denver. Shaheed’s only touchdown this season came on a 28-yard pitch from the backfield against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4 — part of a package Fleury installed over the offseason, inspired by Deebo Samuel Sr.’s usage in San Francisco.

Shaheed has not carried the ball since that game except for a fumble on an end-around in Week 6. Rookie Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet remain sidelined.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 867 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He accounts for 53.9% of Seattle’s receiving yards — the second-highest share through seven games in the past 75 seasons, per Elias Sports Bureau. His 78 targets represent a league-leading 36.6% target share.

Seattle’s offense improved in a 20-3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs after simplifying its game plan following a mini-bye. The recent acquisition of left guard Quenton Nelson further strengthens the unit ahead of Price and Charbonnet’s returns.

“The plan is for his role to continually expand,” Macdonald said of Shaheed. “But I think there’s more there.”

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