Tag: seahawks practice squad

Seahawks practice squad moves indicate Byron Murphy II could miss time

Seahawks practice squad moves indicate Byron Murphy II could miss time

Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II exited Sunday’s Week 3 victory over the Miami Dolphins with a hamstring injury. Head coach Mike Macdonald provided an update earlier this week, claiming the severity of Murphy’s setback is unknown. On Tuesday, the Seahawks made some practice squad moves that could indicate they’re planning to be without their first-year defender against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football in Week 4.

The Seahawks signed nose tackle Matt Gotel and cornerback Ty Hall to their practice squad, the team announced via social media. To make room on the p-squad, general manager John Schneider placed running back George Holani on PS injured reserve, and released S Marquise Blair. Gotel is a familiar face, having spent large portions of training camp on the 90 man roster.

Murphy presumably suffered the injury when his legs split in irregular directions.

https://twitter.com/mookiealexander/status/1838284735837298868

Murphy totaled just 12 snaps before exiting with the injury. Veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed saw an uptick in snaps as a result, playing a season-high 49 snaps, accounting for 80% of Seattle’s defensive plays. Leonard Williams was also injured in Sunday’s win. Johnathan Hankins took on a larger role, too.

If Murphy and/or Williams are sidelined, Gotel could quickly be elevated to the active roster, or as a game-day call-up from the practice squad.

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Expect Seahawks to re-add LB Michael Barrett to practice squad

Expect Seahawks to re-add LB Michael Barrett to practice squad

The Seattle Seahawks released rookie linebacker Michael Barrett from the practice squad on Tuesday in order to make room for wide receiver Ty Scott. It was somewhat of a surprising decision considering Barrett was acquired by general manager John Schneider via trade during training camp. Fear not, the rookie off-ball linebacker should re-join the practice squad fairly soon.

Schneider consistently churns the bottom of his practice squad as required. The Seahawks traded cornerback Michael Jackson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for Barrett in August. We wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a handshake agreement to bring Barrett back to the practice squad shortly.

This actually marked the second time the Seahawks released Barrett from his contract. He was waived after failing to initially make the 53-man roster, and quickly re-signed to the practice squad. Schneider has likely explained to Barrett that this is simply procedural, and the organization would like to continue developing him.

And Barrett will likely accept that offer. Where would you rather be? He’s familiar with head coach Mike Macdonald and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh via their shared connections with The University of Michigan. Unless Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers come calling, Seattle is far and away Barrett’s best overall fit as he continues acclimating to professional football.

If you were confused by Barrett’s release on Tuesday, you should expect him to quickly resurface on the practice squad.

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Seahawks make practice squad moves that indicate more transactions are coming

Seahawks make practice squad moves that indicate more transactions are coming.

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider finalized his initial 53 man roster and practice squad last week. Schneider hasn’t made any changes to the active roster since, but he continues to churn his practice squad. The Seahawks released several players from their reserve team, creating room for potential new additions.

Schneider released defensive tackle Kyon Barrs and offensive lineman Max Pircher from the practice squad. It’s worth noting that Pircher was an International Pathway Player, which means the Seahawks revert to having a 16-man practice squad instead of possessing the exception to add a 17th player. That also means that releasing Barrs and Pircher freed up just one practice squad spot. Defensive lineman Buddha Jones was also released from injured reserve.

https://twitter.com/bcondotta/status/1831076411446296830

One interesting potential addition is free-agent wide receiver Kadarius Toney. The Seahawks recently hosted the former first-rounder on a visit, though additional reports have since claimed a deal isn’t imminent. Toney and the Seahawks could soon circle back on an agreement that sees the versatile wideout join the practice squad.

In other news, former Seahawks offensive lineman Raiqwon O’Neal signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad on Tuesday. O’Neal was formerly a member of Tampa before he joined the Seahawks’ 53 man roster. He was released by Schneider during the roster cut-down period, and has since returned to his old stomping grounds.

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Seahawks round out practice squad with 2 more additions

Seahawks round out practice squad with 2 more additions

The Seattle Seahawks announced a 15-man practice squad earlier this week after submitting their initial 53 man roster. General manager John Schneider made additional tweaks to that practice squad on Thursday, adding cornerback Josh Jobe, and outside linebacker Tyreke Smith. Offensive lineman Raiqwon O’Neal was released in a corresponding move.

Smith was originally drafted by the Seahawks with a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. That means there’s familiarity between him and Schneider, though Pete Carroll was the coach then. Smith missed his entire rookie campaign with injury, but made the initial 53 man roster as a sophomore in 2023. He eventually shifted to the practice squad, where he was claimed from by the Arizona Cardinals. The former Ohio State standout now returns to Seattle.

Jobe entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama following the 2022 NFL Draft. The ex Crimson Tide product spent the previous two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, appearing in 28 total games, including 17 in 2023 with three starts. Pro Football Focus credited Jobe with allowing 16 receptions on 29 targets en route to a coverage grade of 42.7 and a passer rating allowed of 113.

O’Neal was signed to Seattle’s practice squad just earlier this week after being waived on roster cut-down day. Schneider had a change of heart once players like Jobe and Smith became available. Perhaps O’Neal will rejoin the Seahawks at some point.

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Rookie CB DJ James is Seahawks scouting failure

Rookie CB DJ James is Seahawks scouting failure

The Seattle Seahawks waived and released approximately two dozen players during Tuesday’s roster cut-down process. One of the minor surprises included rookie cornerback DJ James, who was waived and passed through the waiver wire process. A bigger surprise arrived when the Seahawks declined opportunities to add James to their practice squad, seemingly admitting defeat on a player they drafted four months ago.

General manager John Schneider drafted James with the No. 193 overall selection in April’s 2024 NFL Draft. It wasn’t necessarily surprising that James didn’t make the roster. He joined a deep cornerback room that features Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Tre Brown, and his former Auburn teammate Nehemiah Pritchett, who was drafted one round earlier.

The real shocking development was that James wasn’t re-added to the practice squad. The Seahawks announced a 15-player practice squad, leaving one spot open (16 maximum) for another addition. Veteran corner Artie Burns is the only cornerback on the practice squad. Other defensive backs include safeties Marquise Blair and Ty Okada.

Perhaps that final practice squad addition will be another cornerback, but early indications are it won’t be James. That seemingly indicates the Seahawks didn’t see enough developmental potential to continue investing in James. It sounds harsh, but it means they did not assess his abilities to be NFL-caliber throughout training camp.

James definitely struggled throughout the preseason. Pro Football Focus tagged the former Auburn product with eight receptions on nine targets for 84 yards and two touchdowns. His coverage grade was a generous 60.8 considering opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 145.1 when targeting him.

Sixth-round selections flame out of the league all the time. What makes this particular case unique is how quickly the Seahawks are calling quits on James, a prospect they drafted ahead of 65 selected players in the 2024 draft. That indicates the scouting staff failed when it came to assessing James’ abilities.

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5 most important Seattle Seahawks practice squad signings

5 most important Seattle Seahawks practice squad signings

The Seattle Seahawks officially announced a 15-man practice squad on Wednesday afternoon. No, general manager John Schneider didn’t retain every talent via the practice squad that he probably wanted to. The Carolina Panthers claimed ex Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan and EDGE Jamie Sheriff on waivers, potentially altering Schneider’s plans.

Schneider and the Seahawks still put together an intriguing practice squad. Mixing veterans with developmental rookies, Seattle’s backup squad has a healthy balance of players that could immediately help and ones that could turn into long-term contributors. With that in mind, we’ve identified the five most important practice squad signings.

George Holani, RB

Many believed the Seahawks would retain four running backs on the active roster, but Schneider stuck with just three. Sophomore back Kenny McIntosh won the RB3 job, and the Seahawks choose to pass undrafted rookie George Holani through waivers. Thankfully, Holani cleared, and has been placed on the practice squad after rushing for 65 yards and two touchdowns during the preseason.

Artie Burns, CB

Veteran cornerback Artie Burns wasn’t subject to the waiver wire process because he’s a vested veteran. Burns could have signed with any team of his choosing after being released, but he opted to re-join the Seahawks via the practice squad. Retaining the experienced cover-man, who occasionally worked with the first-team defense in training camp as the nickel corner, was a big victory for Schneider.

Michael Barrett, LB

The Seahawks acquired rookie linebacker Michael Barrett in a trade with the Carolina Panthers in exchange for cornerback Mike Jackson. Seattle still waived Barrett, but managed to get him back on the practice squad. He’ll spend the season developing under coaches he’s familiar with from his time at Michigan, including special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh.

McClendon Curtis, IOL

Sophomore blocker McClendon Curtis spent the majority of last season on the 53-man roster. This offseason, he proved versatile enough to work at both offensive tackle and his more prominent guard positions. If the Seahawks suffer an injury across the offensive line, Curtis will be ready to join the game-day roster.

Easop Winston Jr., WR

Eason Winston Jr. was Seattle’s most productive wide receiver throughout the preseason. He posted team-highs in receptions (8), receiving yards (99), and touchdowns (1). The Seahawks were deep at wideout, so Winston Jr. had to settle for a developmental spot on the practice squad.

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Seahawks re-sign CB Lance Boykin to reserve/future contract

Naturally, the team’s first official transaction since they made Mike Macdonald their new head coach involves a cornerback.

In Baltimore they love their defensive backs just as they have in Seattle these last 15 years or so. Naturally, the team’s first official transaction since they made Mike Macdonald their new head coach involves a cornerback. According to Aaron Wilson, Seattle has re-signed cornerback Lance Boykin to a reserve/future contract.

Players who sign these type deals typically end up on the practice squad the following season. That’s also where Boykin spent most of the 2023 campaign. In the end, he only made it on the field for one regular season game, putting in 10 total snaps against the Giants.

Looking ahead, there’s not much of a path for Boykin to get more playing time unless it’s on special teams. The Seahawks had an obscenity of riches at corner this year, even deep enough to waive Kyu Blu Kelly, who was a superb fifth-round pick by the Ravens out of Stanford. He’s now with the Commanders.

After the season ended, the team signed seven other players to reserve/future deals. That list includes edge Levi Bell, wide receivers Easop Winston Jr. and Cody White, running back Bryant Koback, safety Jonathan Sutherland, tight end Tyler Mabry and local nose tackle Matthew Gotel.

More Seahawks Wire stories

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10 quotes from Mike Macdonald’s first Seahawks press conference

2024 NFL mock draft: Complete 3-round projections (100 picks)

Seahawks 2023 practice squad tracker: DE Hamilcar Rashed signs

 Our practice squad tracker is updated.

The Seattle Seahawks lost their second-year outside linebacker Tyreke Smith this week when he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals off their practice squad. The team has just announced that they’ve signed former Oregon State defensive end Hamilcar Rashed to take Smith’s place.

Our practice squad tracker is updated (Dec. 15).

Seahawks full depth chart + practice squad going into Week 1

To get a better idea of the team’s depth at each position, we’ve put together an estimated depth chart that includes practice squad players.

The Seattle Seahawks released their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday and yesterday they announced that 15 players have been signed to their practice squad for the 2023 season.

To get a better idea of the team’s depth at each position, we’ve put together an estimated depth chart that includes practice squad players.