Seattle’s new defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had one sack in the Seahawks’ season-opening 21-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at CenturyLink Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Seattle’s new defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had one sack in the Seahawks’ season-opening 21-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at CenturyLink Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

POLL: How many sacks will Jadeveon Clowney have this season?

The Seahawks’ new defensive end made a promising debut Sunday against Cincinnati.

On Sunday we all received our first look at what Jadeveon Clowney can do for the Seattle Seahawks.

Clowney, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end and the former first-overall selection in the NFL draft, was acquired from the Houston Texans a week earlier at a cut-rate price because he was holding out. On Sunday he made his Seahawks debut, officially playing 48 of Seattle’s 77 defensive snaps and finishing with two tackles, one sack and one pass defensed in Seattle’s season-opening 21-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at CenturyLink Field.

The numbers may seem modest, but Sunday provided a glimpse of what Clowney is going to bring to the Seahawks, especially considering Clowney was working on just one week’s worth of on-field preparations because of his holdout. In addition to his sack, tackle for loss and batted pass, Clowney commanded premium attention from the Bengals’ offensive line, helping open lanes for others like Quinton Jefferson, who had a career day with two sacks of his own.

These are exactly the qualities the Seahawks were seeking. The biggest question about Seattle throughout the offseason was about the pass rush. Leading sack man Frank Clark was traded to Kansas City in a cost-savings move. The Seahawks drafted L.J. Collier in the first round of the draft, but he’s considered more of an every-down defensive end than a pure pass rusher. Former Pro Bowler Ziggy Ansah was signed as a free agent, but he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. The unexpected last-minute trade for Clowney was the move that finally addressed the situation the way Seattle hoped.

Clowney is playing a more traditional defensive end role in Seattle’s 4-3 defense than he did in Houston’s 3-4. With the Texans Clowney often found himself lining up as a stand-up rusher. However, on Sunday he was in a three-point stance for all but one of his snaps, and that’s how he played in college at South Carolina when he became the nation’s top talent.

For all his abilities and accolades, Clowney never had more than 9.5 sacks in a season during his five years in Houston. The man he’s charged with replacing, Clark, had 13.0 sacks last season, so Clowney will have to have a career year rushing the passer to replace the lost production. But he’s on his way after getting his first sack against the Bengals — though that instance of forcing Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton out of bounds was as much due to the coverage as it was Clowney’s pass rush. And his role in Seattle may be more suited to his pass-rushing abilities than his role in Houston was.

So how many sacks do you think Clowney will finish with for the Seahawks this season? Make the call here:


Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

Cam Schlittler’s strong debut freezes Mariners

The Mariners fell to the Yankees, 9-6, on Wednesday night.

Storm flies too close to the Sun, loses in an upset

Connecticut snapped a 10-game losing streak to beat Seattle 93-83 on Wednesday morning.

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees flips his bat after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in New York. (Evan Bernstein / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Raleigh, Judge heat up homer race at Yankee Stadium

In the battle of baseball’s biggest sluggers, Aaron Judge… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks linebackers Derick Hall (58) and Boye Mafe (53) celebrate a defensive play during the 2024 season. (Rio Giancarlo / Getty Images / The Athletic)
Season to reveal long-term plans for Seahawks linebackers

The Seattle Seahawks selected edge rusher Boye Mafe with… Continue reading

Silvertips defenseman wins U20 Ball Hockey World Title with Canada

Rylan Pearce helps Canada win gold at the ISBHF U20 World Championships in Slovakia.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.