Seahawks Cut Star Rookie from Active Roster After Missing Team Bus to Northwest Stadium Before Commanders Showdown
November 02, 2025, Landover, MD – Seattle Seahawks stunned fans by deactivating rookie WR Tory Horton hours before their Week 9 clash with the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. The fifth-round pick from Colorado State, known for explosive returns and route precision, faces a career setback after missing the team bus due to oversleeping from late-night film study. This avoidable error sparks debate on professionalism in the NFL's high-pressure environment.
Horton, drafted 166th overall, signed a four-year, $4.2M deal with $800K bonus. With Cooper Kupp sidelined, Coach Mike Macdonald planned gadget plays to exploit Horton's speed against Washington's secondary. The 22-year-old Californian had emerged as a punt-return threat and WR depth behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The incident unfolded Sunday when buses left the Hilton at 4:30 p.m. for the 8:20 p.m. kickoff. Horton, studying Joe Whitt Jr.'s blitzes until 1:30 a.m., overslept and arrived late via Lyft, missing warm-ups and meetings. GM John Schneider immediately benched him.
Schneider activated practice squad veteran Dareke Young instead. "The NFL doesn't forgive sloppiness," a team source said. "Tory's electric, but you miss the bus, you miss the moment." The decision underscores Seattle's culture of discipline under Macdonald.
In a pre-game presser, Schneider stated: "This isn't college. The buses don't wait, and neither do opportunities. We're 5-2, fighting for the NFC West. One lapse hurts the unit." Horton was set for slot mismatches and returns; now he's inactive for the first time.
Horton's journey includes 1,131 yards at Colorado State in 2022 and a 95-yard preseason punt-return TD. Compared to a young Deebo Samuel, he built chemistry with QB Sam Darnold. This blunder pauses his rise despite viral camp highlights.
Shenault takes WR5 and return duties; an extra edge rusher counters Washington's run game. Horton told media: "I messed up, no excuses. I'll own it and come back stronger. These Seahawks are family."
On X, #HortonMissedRide trended with 120K+ engagements, mixing tough love and support. As Seattle takes the field, focus shifts to momentum and Horton's redemption. In the NFL, one misstep can overshadow talent—for now, his comeback begins post-whistle.
VIDEOS: JuJu Smith-Schuster Speaks Out in Defense of Brian Branch After NFL Films' "Hit Piece" Video During the Chiefs vs. Lions game
Kansas City, October 18, 2025 – Following the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the Detroit Lions on October 12, 2025, a video posted by NFL Films on X sparked controversy by heavily criticizing the performance of Lions safety Brian Branch. The clip, part of a promotional segment for the "NFL Turning Point" series, was slammed by fans and media for its "smear" tactics, highlighting Branch’s mistakes during the game. The video was taken down by NFL Films just hours after its release, but not before igniting outrage from Lions fans and players.
In a surprising turn of events, Chiefs star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster came to Branch’s defense, despite their on-field altercation that led to Branch’s one-game suspension by the NFL. In an exclusive interview, Smith-Schuster stated:
“I don’t want things to escalate and push a talented player into a corner. What happens on the field should stay on the field. I’m actually a fan of his because he plays with the true essence and spirit of this sport. If that video hadn’t been taken down quickly, it could have buried his career.”
Smith-Schuster’s remarks have been hailed as a rare display of sportsmanship, especially considering his direct involvement in the incident. Many fans have praised his class, while questions linger about NFL Films’ motives for posting such a “personally attacking” video.
VIDEOS:
Yikes: NFL Films deleted this video that exposed Lions safety Brian Branch after the league suspended him.
Multiple Lions players have already called out the NFL for creating a "hit piece" on Branch.
We have never seen anything like this.
😬😬😬pic.twitter.com/bcwkwtf6P5 — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 17, 2025
NFL Films issued an official statement, explaining that the clip was part of a longer analysis and that they did not anticipate the backlash when it was posted independently. However, Lions fans remain skeptical, with some on X calling it a deliberate “smear campaign,” especially since the video surfaced shortly after Branch’s appeal was denied.
This incident has reignited debates about the NFL’s fairness in handling disciplinary matters and highlighted the camaraderie among players, as shown by Smith-Schuster’s defense of his opponent. The controversy surrounding Brian Branch and the now-deleted video is sure to remain a talking point in the days ahead.
