Tag: Laviska Shenault

Chargers make roster moves ahead of Week 15 game vs. Buccaneers

The Chargers placed a wide receiver on injured reserve.

The Chargers made a few roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

Los Angeles placed wide receiver Jalen Reagor on injured reserve. Reagor sustained a hand injury in Week 14 against the Chiefs.

In correspondence, the team elevated wide receiver Laviska Shenault and tight end Eric Tomlinson from the practice squad.

Shenault recently played for the Seahawks. During his time with Seattle, he returned 16 passes for 459 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown, and caught five passes for 36 yards.

Tomlinson’s promotion from the practice squad comes in wake of Will Dissly being ruled out for Sunday with a shoulder injury. Tomlinson has appeared in eight games this season, with two catches for nine yards.

Will Jaelon Darden solve Seahawks’ special teams woes?

Will Jaelon Darden solve Seahawks’ special teams woes?

The Seattle Seahawks were fortunate to survive a disastrous special teams performance against the New York Jets in last Sunday’s Week 13 win. Veteran return man Laviska Shenault Jr. fumbled twice. Shenault Jr. recovered one of those cough-ups, and the Seahawks eliminated the other one by scoring a pick-six return touchdown on the Jets’ ensuing possession.

Fellow return man Dee Williams also lost a fumble and the Jets capitalized on that error by scoring a touchdown. There were other errors, such as a Jets 99-yard return touchdown. Days later, the Seahawks parted ways with both Williams and Shenault Jr., releasing both players in separate transactions.

Getting rid of both return men left the Seahawks without clear-cut replacement options on the active roster. General manager John Schneider responded to that challenge by claiming wide receiver Jaelon Darden off waivers from the Cleveland Browns.

Darden first entered the league as a fourth-round selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in the 2021 NFL Draft. Darden returned punts all four seasons while at North Texas, and also had some experience returning kickoffs. Since joining the pro ranks, he’s continued to be a sure-handed returner.

Darden has returned 78 career punts for 760 yards, averaging a stellar 9.7 yards per return. As a kickoff returner, he’s totaled 27 returns for 565 yards. Most notably for the Seahawks, Darden has never muffed a single punt or kickoff despite a sizable 115 career chances.

Darden has never scored a return touchdown, and his per-return numbers are fairly average, but reliability is often a returner’s best ability. Shenault Jr. and Williams were literally costing the Seahawks possessions and points. Darden should come in and quickly improve the Seahawks’ special teams return outputs.

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Chargers sign former second-round pick wide receiver to practice squad

The Chargers added a wide receiver to the practice squad.

The Chargers signed wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. to the practice squad on Thursday.

In correspondence, Los Angeles released WR Dez Fitzpatrick from the practice squad.

Shenault was recently with the Seahawks before being waived this week. Signed as a free agent this offseason, Shenault had 16 returns for 459 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown. He also had five catches for 36 yards.

Shenault was a second-round draft pick by the Jaguars in 2020. In his first two seasons in Jacksonville, Shenault posted back-to-back 600+ receiving yard seasons, five touchdowns and 121 receptions.

In 2022, Shenault was traded to the Panthers, where he finished with 37 catches for 332 yards and a touchdown, in addition to 21 carries for 120 yards and a score on the ground.

Shenault is a hybrid player who can line up at multiple positions, including wide receiver, running back and kick returner.

Seahawks are still making decisions regarding returners in Week 14

Seahawks are still making decisions regarding returners in Week 14

The Seattle Seahawks are entering Sunday’s critical Week 14 showdown with the Arizona Cardinals with unanswered questions at the kickoff and punt return positions. The Seahawks survived an all-time terrible special teams performance in the Week 13 win over the New York Jets.

Laviska Shenault fumbled on two occasions, losing one. Somehow, neither of those errors led to points for the Jets. The Seahawks still responded appropriately, releasing Shenault from his contract earlier this week.

Dee Williams is the logical in-house answer, but he’s also come under scrutiny for his fumbles and turnovers this season. With Shenault officially gone, will Williams receive another opportunity? Head coach Mike Macdonald is still mulling his options, along with special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh, he told the media on Wednesday.

The straightforward alternative solution would be third string running back Kenny McIntosh. McIntosh is currently on the 53-man roster and has returned two kicks this campaign, gaining 35 yards (17.5 yards per return). He’s a sure-handed option, but lacks the explosion and vision to be a true difference maker.

Williams is the only Seahawk to return a punt this season. The rookie undrafted free agent out of Tennessee has returned 15 punts for 111 yards. The Seahawks must assess all options, including available free agents and players on their practice squad.

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Seahawks have one active player in top 10 Pro Bowl voting

Seahawks have one active player in top 10 Pro Bowl voting

The Seattle Seahawks have won three consecutive contests and currently sit atop the NFC West. Naturally, several of Mike Macdonald’s players are earning Pro Bowl consideration. As of Monday, following one week of fan voting, the Seahawks had two players among the top 10 in their position. They are safety Julian Love (fifth overall, third in the NFC) and special teams returner Laviska Shenault Jr. (fourth overall, fourth in the NFC).

Well, awkwardly, the Seahawks released Shenault Jr. from his contract on Monday, making Love their only active player in the top 10 of Pro Bowl voting at his position.

Shenault Jr. put forth a truly disastrous performance against the New York Jets that easily could have swung the result the Jets’ way. After the other struggling returner Dee Williams fumbled a kick off, Shenault muffed a kick of his own. He was able to recover, but his error set the Seahawks’ offense back at their own 12 yard line.

Just minutes later, the Jets scored a special teams touchdown via a 99-yard kickoff return. Shenault had an opportunity to redeem himself. Instead, he muffed a second consecutive return, and this time the ball was recovered by the Jets at Seattle’s 38 yard line, ironically leading to Leonard Williams’ historic 92-yard pick six return TD.

Love has been outstanding for the Seahawks throughout 2024. The versatile safety has recorded 82 tackles and is en route to a third consecutive 100-tackle campaign. Love has also added two interceptions and seven pass breakups to his defensive totals. He deserves Pro Bowl consideration.

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Seahawks waive WR/KR Laviska Shenault Jr. after disastrous performance

Seahawks waive WR/KR Laviska Shenault Jr. after disastrous performance

The tenure of wide receiver/kick returner Laviska Shenault Jr. in Seattle is officially over. On Monday, the Seahawks waived their utility man after a truly disastrous performance against the New York Jets that easily could have cost the team a much-needed win.

We at Seahawks Wire hammered Shenault for his outing in Week 13, but there is no such thing overstating how poor it was. After the other (struggling) return man Dee Williams fumbled the ball on a kick off, Shenault muffed a kick of his own. He was able to recover it, but it set the Seahawks up at their own 12 yard line… much deeper in their own territory than they needed to be. Fortunately for Shenault, Seattle was able to find the end zone that drive.

Immediately after New York scored on a 99-yard kick off, Shenault once again had a chance to redeem himself. Instead, he muffed the return again, and this time the ball was recovered by the Jets at Seattle’s 38 yard line. The Seahawks were down 21-7 at this point and New York had all the momentum. The Jets were in prime position to make it a 28-7 game, effectively putting it out of reach for Seattle this early on. Once again, fortune bailed out Shenault when Leonard Williams intercepted Aaron Rodgers and returned it 92-yards for a touchdown – the longest by a defensive linemen in NFL history.

It seems that was the end of the line for Shenault, as the team won’t allow him to place them in another opportunity where they would need a potentially history-making play to save the day. Shenault ends his Seattle career with 459 return yards and a 97-yard return touchdown. He also had two fumbles as well.

The Seahawks also had to make a roster decision anyways. Top pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu and right tackle Stone Forsythe are back from injured reserve, and head coach Mike Macdonald hinted Nwosu’s return could be “sooner than later.” Should that be the case (especially if “sooner” means Week 14 against the Cardinals) a spot on the active 53-man roster is now open for him.

Seattle’s special teams have been nothing short of a terrible liability all season long, and Shenault has been a key contributor in the mess. As for his running mate, the aforementioned Dee Williams, the writing is on the wall that this staff will no longer tolerate self-inflicted wounds of his nature.

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Seahawks should have return specialists available vs. Cardinals

Seahawks should have return specialists available vs. Cardinals

The Seattle Seahawks are facing a critical divisional game versus the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. There are legitimate availability questions surrounding both return specialists, Dee Williams and Laviska Shenault Jr. Thankfully, head coach Mike Macdonald recently said that both playmakers could be available on Sunday. Williams and Shenault Jr. are considered day to day.

Williams exited Sunday’s Week 11 victory over the San Francisco 49ers with an ankle injury. Seattle’s medical team swiftly ruled Williams out. That’s typically a bad sign, but the former University of Tennessee standout appears to have avoided a major setback.

Shenault is nursing an oblique injury. He did not return any kickoffs against the 49ers. Third-string running back Kenny McIntosh handled kickoff duties, returning one attempt for 15 yards. The Seahawks also didn’t return any punts in Week 11.

Shenault has returned 14 kicks this campaign for 449 yards. He’s averaging an explosive 32.1 yards per return, including a 97-yard touchdown. Shenault is among the best kickoff returners in the league.

Williams has returned 13 punts this season for 96 yards. He’s been sure-handed, averaging 7.4 yards per punt return. Williams has called 16 fair catches.

The Seahawks would prefer to have both return specialists available versus the Cardinals. Shenault and Williams are potential game changers. Macdonald will discuss their game-day designations on Friday.

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Seahawks counter 49ers’ TD with 97-yard kickoff return

Lavishka Shenault delivered a huge kickoff return for Seattle

Seattle needed a big play in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday. The Seahawks got one.

Laviska Shenault Jr. took the kickoff after a 49ers touchdown and returned it 97 yards for a score. After the PAT, the Seahawks trailed, 23-10.

The 49ers scored on a beautiful catch by tight end George Kittle, who managed to get both feet down for the score from 10 yards.

Thirteen seconds later, the Seahawks cut a 20-point deficit to 13. It was the second kick off return for a TD this season with dynamic format implemented.

This was far more conventional than the 55-yard return Shenault was credited for on his first college touch at Colorado.

He picked up the fumble of a teammate on a punt return and went 55 yards to give Colorado a 7-0 lead against Texas State.

Watch: Laviska Shenault Jr. with a 97-yard kick off return touchdown

Watch: Laviska Shenault Jr. with a 97-yard kick off return touchdown

The Seahawks were in desperate need of a spark in the third quarter. The San Francisco 49ers took the opening drive of the half all the way down for a touchdown to extend their lead to 23-3. It was officially starting to feel like it was getting late, early, for the Seahawks.

Special teams, which have otherwise been horrid to start the year, decided they wanted some redemption. Specifically Laviska Shenault Jr., who fumbled on a kick off earlier in the game. Well, Shenault more than made up for his error with this explosive return.

This is the first kick off return touchdown scored by the Seahawks since the 2021 season. Seattle was hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars, and took care of business. The Seahawks were leading 24-0 going into the fourth quarter, and the Jaguars scored a garbage time touchdown. On the ensuing onside kick attempt, running back Travis Homer recovered the ball and took it 44-yards for a touchdown to put the final emphasis on the game.

At the time of this article’s publication, the Seahawks trail the 49ers 23-10 midway through the third quarter. Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter for more updates.

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Seahawks WR Laviska Shenault Jr. switches jersey number

Seahawks WR Laviska Shenault Jr. switches jersey number

The Seattle Seahawks’ training camp roster featured 90 players and a lot of jersey number shuffling. The No. 1 jersey number technically became available after general manager John Schneider released wide receiver Dee Eskridge at final cuts. Eskridge was not re-signed to the practice squad, making his desired uniform number up for grabs.

Seahawks veteran receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. was the player to claim the newly-available number. News emerged on Monday that Shenault had officially swapped his No. 81 jersey number for No. 1.

Eskridge had the No. 1 jersey number when Shenault signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks in April. Shenault has donned several numbers throughout his career, including 15 and 81.

Shenault was electric for the Seahawks throughout training camp and the preseason. The former Colorado standout recorded seven receptions for 76 receiving yards. The dual-threat versatile playmaker also added 19 rushing yards to his offensive totals via three rushing attempts.

Perhaps where Shenault will be most impactful is on special teams, particularly as the team’s primary kickoff returner under the new rule changes. Shenault returned a kick for 44 yards in Seattle’s debut preseason game versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh had seen enough. He didn’t return another kick during the exhibition, and is currently listed as the starting kickoff returner on the depth chart.

Hopefully Shenault’s new jersey number (No. 1) indicates he’ll be the league’s best kickoff returner this season.

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