Days after Alex Boone‘s Ravens visit, the veteran guard will land a job. It will not be in Baltimore, however. The Seahawks are expected to sign Boone to their practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
This is contingent on Boone going through the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, which require nearly a week’s worth of negative tests. But Boone is en route to Seattle to begin testing.
The former 49ers, Vikings and Cardinals blocker has not played since the 2017 season. He would be another high-profile addition to the Seahawks practice squad. Damon Harrison landed with Seattle’s taxi squad earlier this season, and the Seahawks promoted him to their active roster weeks later. Boone may need a similar acclimation period, though not much time remains for it. But the longtime 49ers starter has been interested in returning to the league for several months; he looks to have secured an opportunity.
Boone will be reuniting with former 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari, who currently serves as the Seahawks’ O-line coach. Boone, 33, was a starter with San Francisco, Minnesota and Arizona from 2012-17. He started for the 49ers in the 2013 NFC championship game in Seattle and has played in the NFC West for all but one season since arriving in the league as a 2009 UDFA.
The Seahawks have used rookie Damien Lewis and ex-Boone teammate Mike Iupati as their primary guard starters this season. At this stage of his career, Boone would profile as potential insurance. While he has played guard as a pro, Boone does have tackle experience. He started at left tackle for multiple seasons at Ohio State.
Good move by Seattle, will probably replace Iupati or just be a rotational full in piece.
Iupati has been a highly underrated success during his time in Seattle- a giant in the run game. He wouldn’t replace him it would be the latter esp considering Brandon Shell, Phil Haynes and Jamarco Jones are all still injury concerns theu the next 3g
Iupati and Boone were very similar players in San Fran in their heyday. Iupati might have been slightly less as a pass blocker, but he was an absolute wrecking machine in the run game. Boone was in the same vein. In all likelihood, the Seahawks are hoping that Boone can recapture that old form, and there won’t be too much drop-off from Iupati to Boone in case of substitution or as a complimentary piece.
this guy is a nfcwest s l u t
Odd to see him back after three years out of football, but in his prime Boone was a tenacious run blocker in San Fran. Familiar coaching might be enough to get some good production on an injury prone line in Seattle, in time for a playoff push.