Seattle Seahawks’ 17-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers was more than just a Week 1 stumble for Mike Macdonald‘s men. It was a reminder of what life looks like without DK Metcalf.

Macdonald admitted as much midweek, explaining how Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the focal point. “After looking back at it, that’s where the ball should have gone. We have plays designed for other people as well, but I think you’re looking at a combination of Jax playing at a high level, being in a position where Sam [Darnold] can pull the trigger wherever he’s at in the progression. But the ball will find its way around. I’m convinced of that,” the Seahawks’ HC said.

The problem is that Seattle doesn’t have anyone else right now who can demand that attention the way Metcalf once did. The run game didn’t help, either. More so, the Seahawks totaled just 84 yards on the ground at 3.2 per carry, with Zach Charbonnet accounting for more than half that production. The rest of the backfield gave almost nothing, forcing Seattle into predictable passing situations. That imbalance highlighted a larger truth about Macdonald’s offense: it lacks the physical identity Metcalf provided, both as a vertical threat and as a punishing blocker in Kubiak’s scheme.

The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar noted Seattle originally built this offense for a Metcalf–Smith-Njigba pairing, giving Kubiak the versatility of two strong blockers and one elite downfield option. Instead, Metcalf was shipped to Pittsburgh for draft capital, and Geno Smith was dealt away at Sin City’s mercy for a reunion with Pete Carroll. That leaves Sam Darnold as the fallback.

Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling should have filled DK’s void. However, their Week 1 impact was negligible. Kupp managed two short catches and a costly drop, while Valdes-Scantling barely saw the ball.

Behind them, camp standouts like Jake Bobo, Dareke Young, and rookie Tory Horton either sat with injuries or failed to make a dent. That left Smith-Njigba carrying the load with 9 catches for 124 yards and every first down through the air. Macdonald called it the “Jax show.” But even he admitted the offense unraveled when indecisiveness crept in. “When we get it targeted and we’re all on the same page, we’re doing a lot of good stuff,” he said. “When we have some indecisiveness, that’s when things get twisted.”

Macdonald’s defense gave him chances, forcing two interceptions and holding San Francisco to 3.3 yards per carry, but Seattle’s offense burned it all away with 38 minutes of possession surrendered and just 3-of-10 on third down. Darnold’s late fumble sealed the loss, capping a flat debut that revealed the truth.

Seahawks’ players know the offensive imbalance

“Obviously not the start that we wanted,” Darnold said. “I felt like we weren’t as efficient as we wanted to be on first and second down. Third down, we’ve got to be way better as well. So not our best day today.” For Mike Macdonald, it’s about finding a new identity, and that search already looks more complicated than he may have realized.

Seattle’s “whip” mentality… Macdonald’s focus on precision and detail… It might be useful in the film room. But in practice it highlighted imbalance. Without Metcalf, the offense feels stitched together rather than built around a defining piece. Smith-Njigba is talented but asking him to shoulder WR1 duties without a true vertical complement makes the passing game predictable.

Kupp’s frustration after Week 1 captured the mood in the locker room. “The ending of that game just makes you sick. We were right there. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t have been in that position. If we make half the plays that we expect to, and we’re not there. Killer way for it to end,” veteran receiver said.

A group that can move the ball in spurts but lacks the hammer to finish drives. Defenses no longer have to tilt coverages or stack the box out of respect for Metcalf, which frees them to load up on Smith-Njigba and dare Darnold to beat them elsewhere. That’s a formula that plays directly into Seattle’s struggles with balance. Modest run production and no true mismatch to punish single coverage outside.

“We have threats all around the field, so the more we can use everybody, the tougher we’re going to be. We know that, and we’re going to get more opportunities for those guys to do their thing.” Jax noted. “We have a lot of weapons, and we know that. I’m excited for us to get another chance, another game under our belt, and really prove that.”

He will get his chance in Week 2 as well. When the Seahawks will go to Pittsburgh. It will also give Mike Macdonald a chance to witness how well DK is doing as an offensive weapon for Aaron Rodgers.