Is Nick Emmanwori really iffy for the season opener? Or are he and Mike Macdonald playing mind games with the Patriots?

Emmanwori is coming back from ankle surgery that was performed in July. He has returned to the field in a limited capacity, based on injury reports.

The final episode of “Hard Knocks” featured another conversation between coach and player, in which Emmanwori said, “I feel like I’m grinding every day to a point where it’s like I’m making progress but can’t really do back-to-back hard days like that. Two days ago, I was pushing it, like I was running, and the next day it was kind of sore.

“I feel like other people’s (idea of) where they think I should be at, or where they want me to be, could be kind of interfering with where I’m trying to go or where I’m trying to get to.”

Macdonald assured him that no one on the team is concerned and he just needs to take it a day at a time.

“You can’t control if your body’s ready, which sucks,” Macdonald said. “You want to hit the button. Like, hey man, hit the button 20 times. You told me to hit the button 20 times. I should be good. It just doesn’t work that way.

“I think the directive to you is just keep grinding away. And just know we’re in your corner, your teammates are in your corner. We all see that you’re working really hard. Guys know who’s trying and who’s not. You what I mean? So just level with them. I’m sure they get it too.”

That was filmed two weeks or so before the opener, so it was probably a legit conversation. But they might have been embellishing a little for the cameras – and the Patriots.

Diggs needs 2 weeks

Trevon Diggs ended up starting on the practice (ready) squad, and Macdonald explained it this way: “To me it’s just like, dude, let’s just keep getting your legs back. Let’s get your wind up so you can go play — and then let’s go. So, whatever it takes for us to get to that point.”

Asked by the coach how much time he needs “to feel great scheme-wise,” Diggs said probably two more weeks. He still is expected to be called up for the opener Wednesday.

That 70 show

Also from “Hard Knocks,” Cooper Kupp and Macdonald reminded everyone that these Seahawks view it as a 70-man roster. They use the ready squad liberally.

Kupp told some younger players, “Last year was the first time that I saw how it’s supposed to be done, where you believe in your true 70 to get the job done for you.”

The Seahawks figure to add a couple of safeties — maybe Rodney Thomas II and/or D’Anthony Bell — from the ready squad to replace injured Ty Okada and possibly Emmanwori.

Bell finally signed to the squad after no other team apparently wanted him for the 53 to start the season.

Ownership notes

The team sale closed officially Sept. 3 and a dozen minority investors were revealed as well. Among the notables are two Mexican business dynasties (Aramburuzabalas and Gonzalo Hevia Baillères), plus billionaire Penny Pritzker and two equity firms.

The Aramburuzabalas built the Corona beer brand and founded Modelo Group, which they sold to Anheuser-Busch over a decade ago. Baillères is one of the heirs to a mining dynasty and business empire created by his grandfather (Baillères also is rumored to be dating actress Emma Watson of “Harry Potter” fame).

Pritzker was U.S. Commerce Secretary under President Obama (2013-17) and is the sister of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

As for the equity firms, Sixth Street also has shares in the NBA’s Spurs and Celtics, MLB’s Giants and — um, yeah – the Patriots. And Carlyle and Dynasty is a part owner in the Seattle Reign women’s soccer team. Former NFL star Curtis Martin reportedly has been working with Dynasty to help add an NFL team to its portfolio. Mission accomplished.

In other ownership notes, a hilarious scene on “Hard Knocks” showed Macdonald and John Schneider watching via video feed the NFL owners meetings where the Seahawks’ sale was approved. Vinod Khosla said, “The task ahead is pretty simple: Keep the winning streak alive. Get another Super Bowl.”

Macdonald scoffed and Schneider laughed and repeated: “It’s pretty simple!” He laughed some more and added, “That’s awesome.”

Vinod said on Twitter that he wants Jody Allen to raise the 12 flag before the opener.

‘Legendary defenses are
made in Seattle’

Avery Smith, the rookie cornerback from Toledo acquired in a trade with the Chargers, was asked his impression of the Seahawks before he was traded to Seattle. He had a great answer: “Legendary defenses are made in Seattle, from the LOB to the MOB.”

He also said he follows football closely and he has never seen an undrafted rookie traded for a draft pick, which told him the Seahawks really wanted him.

The Hawks love Toledo DBs. Smith was reunited with Andre Fuller Jr. and Maxen Hook, who are both on the ready squad.

Other notes

**Leonard Williams signed a new three-year extension worth $90 million. The total deal is four years, $104.65 million – which equals $26.2 million per year. As always, both sides see it to their benefit, which is what makes a deal like this happen.

**Patriots star corner Christian Gonzalez finally signed his extension, on the eve of the eve of the opener. His deal guarantees him $1 million more than Devon Witherspoon’s $101 million.

**If the condition of the Irv Charles trade was him making the Week 1 roster, that seventh-round pick in 2028 comes back to the Seahawks because he is on IR. The Hawks are now projected to have all seven picks in 2028, plus a 3 for losing Nolan Teasley to the Vikings. They also will have a 3 in 2027 for that.