Seattle Seahawks News & Rumors

Dolphins To Sign OLB Tyus Bowser Off Seahawks’ Practice Squad

In need of healthy depth along the edge, the Dolphins are set to make an addition. Tyus Bowser is being signed off the Seahawks’ practice squad, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Jaelan Phillips is out for the season due to a knee injury. Especially since Bradley Chubb has yet to return to the lineup, Miami is particularly thin along the edge as things stand. Bowser could provide at least a rotational presence as he aims to carve out a full-time role in 2024. The 29-year-old missed all of last season, but he managed a pair of appearances with Seattle this year.

Bowser took a Seahawks taxi squad deal to reunite with head coach Mike Macdonald after the two worked together in Baltimore. That move came about just after roster cutdowns and allowed him to try and rebuild his value while handling a rotational role. Used as a gameday elevation in Weeks 3 and 4, the former second-rounder logged 38 defensive snaps with Seattle. As Schefter’s colleague Brady Henderson noted earlier today, Bowser had his practice squad deal terminated to allow him to land with a new team.

By taking a contract with Miami, Bowser will join defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. The latter served as a key member of the Ravens’ defensive staff from 2021-23, providing some overlap with the former’s playing time in Baltimore. Weaver took the Dolphins’ DC gig this offseason, and Bowser – who recorded 19.5 sacks in 89 Ravens games – will give him a familiar face to work with as the team tries to fill the vacancy created by Phillips’ injury. Bowser has considerable experience not only defending the run but also dropping into coverage, especially compared to the skillsets of rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara.

That versatility could help the Houston product earn a notable workload over the coming weeks. Robinson and Emmanuel Ogbah are positioned to handle first-team reps along the edge, and Chubb will factor heavily into the team’s rotation once he is healthy. A veteran of 24 starts (one of which came with the Seahawks as they dealt with their own pass-rushing injury troubles), Bowser could nevertheless see meaningful playing time through the remainder of the season. Doing so would help Miami’s defense and boost his market value in the process.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/24

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

  • Practice window opened: DT Jonathan Ford

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Today marks most teams’ first practice before Week 5, making it the first date players stashed on IR as teams set their initial 53-man rosters can work out again with their teams. This year’s IR tweak allowed teams to designate up to two players for return August 27, the catch being all players who receive that designation count toward their respective club’s eight-activation total. The batch included in today’s minor moves post consists entirely of players to receive that August IR-return designation.

The IR-return window is unchanged, however, with teams having 21 days from Wednesday to activate these players. Anyone from today’s group not being activated from IR by October 23 must miss the rest of the season. PFR will keep track of all players returning from IR via the Injured Reserve Return Tracker.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/24

Today’s practice squad updates around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

  • Signed: WR Jermaine Jackson
  • Released: WR John Jiles

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Released: DT Matt Gotel

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

The Broncos are bringing in the veteran running back Ahmed after he spent four years in Miami. Ahmed’s biggest role came in four starts as an undrafted rookie back in 2020 in which he rushed for 319 yards and three touchdowns over six games. He served as a reliable backup for the Dolphins for the past few years.

The Chargers released Jefferson yesterday, but they’ll keep him around on the practice squad with today’s signing. The veteran adds some quality depth to the roster.

Seahawks To Re-Sign OL Jason Peters

Despite Jason Peters being added during Pete Carroll‘s final year running the Seahawks, Mike Macdonald said a reunion with the accomplished offensive lineman remained in play. That is now a go.

Peters is re-signing with Seattle, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. This agreement, which will send Peters to the Seahawks’ practice squad, will give the veteran a chance to play a 21st NFL season. The former Eagles stalwart is now 42 but has remained a viable option, bouncing around the NFC in his post-Philly years.

This signing comes after a recent visit, and with no other team connected to the former 2004 UDFA, a Seattle return trip is booked. Peters initially joined the Seahawks in September 2023, coming aboard before Week 2. This latest move coming closer to the midseason point may feature a truncated ramp-up period, but it still should be expected Peters stays on Seattle’s P-squad for a bit — especially with the team having a new offensive system in place.

Down both Abraham Lucas and Phil Haynes for much of last season, the Seahawks turned to Peters as a two-game starter. Seattle used a platoon system with Peters, who played almost exclusively at right tackle in 2023. The longtime Eagles LT played 199 snaps on the right side to help the Seahawks, who are again down Lucas. Dealing with persistent knee trouble, Lucas underwent offseason surgery and is on the reserve/PUP list. Seattle is not expecting the 2022 third-round pick to return until at least the midseason point.

A longtime starter for the Bills and Eagles, Peters made 15 starts with the Bears as a 2021 stopgap. He joined a Cowboys team that lost Tyron Smith just before the 2022 season, starting one game and working as a swing backup in 11 more. Peters has now played in 248 career games. Among O-linemen, that sits sixth all time.

Peters can catch former Falcons mainstay Mike Kenn (251) and move into the top five this season, and an outside shot at him passing Hall of Famer Jackie Slater (259) exists depending on his latest Seattle acclimation period and the Seahawks’ need. Though, getting there might be a longshot in 2024. Former Oilers/Titans legend Bruce Matthews leads O-linemen with 296 appearances. Matthews played 19 seasons; Slater and Ray Brown logged 20 as O-linemen. Peters is on the cusp of new NFL territory. No offensive lineman has played 21 NFL seasons. While Peters missed all of the 2012 campaign, he was on the Eagles’ roster. He may soon tie Slater as O-linemen to see action in 20 seasons.

Few non-specialists have hit the 20-year mark in NFL history, adding to Peters’ list of accomplishments in what will likely be a Hall of Fame career. Peters is a nine-time Pro Bowler who landed on the All-Decade team for the 2010s. Two of Peters’ Bills seasons produced second-team All-Pro nods, with two of his Eagles slates resulting in such placement as well. Peters logged first-team All-Pro honors in 2011 and 2013. While he collected a Super Bowl ring as part of the 2017 Eagles, a midseason injury kept him from helping the team during that campaign’s stretch run.

The Seahawks being down Lucas stopgap George Fant, who suffered an injury a few plays into his second Seattle stint, intensified the team’s need for help opposite Charles Cross. Stone Forsythe, a 2021 sixth-round pick, has started the past three games at RT for the Seahawks. Pro Football Focus has graded the fourth-year blocker as the league’s fifth-worst tackle this season. While Fant recovers, a path for a quick Peters assimilation could well be in place.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/24

Today’s minor moves:

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Promoted: WR Dee Eskridge

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker Back For Week 4

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker was off to a hot start in Week 1 with 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries before leaving the game with an oblique injury. He’s been out ever since, but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the third-year rusher will make his return to the field in Week 4.

Since Walker’s departure, Zach Charbonnet has stepped in as the lead back in Seattle. He struggled in his first start of the season, amassing only 38 rushing yards on 14 carries but saved the performance with a touchdown, as well as five catches for 31 yards through the air. Last week, he showed RB1 potential with a 91-yard, two-touchdown performance.

While Walker is returning to the field, it might be in the Seahawks’ best interest to slow-play his comeback. The team will obviously want to get Walker involved in the offense, but if they feel confident with the body of work Charbonnet has put forth thus far, they may continue to give Charbonnet a good number of carries until they’re certain Walker is 100 percent.

Walker’s return is obviously good news, but unfortunately, it comes alongside the announcement that four defensive players will be unavailable this coming Monday. Per Brady Henderson of ESPN, defensive tackles Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy and outside linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe have all been ruled out for Week 4. Williams, Nwosu, and Mafe have been starters so far this year, while Murphy has played a strong rotational role on the line.

Nwosu has missed Seattle’s first three games with an MCL sprain and is not yet ready to come back. The other three all suffered injuries in last week’s matchup with the Dolphins. Murphy suffered a hamstring injury, Williams hurt his ribs, and Mafe aggravated a previous knee issue. The Seahawks will attempt to use Mike Morris and Myles Adams to fill the holes on the line, while Derick Hall and Dre’Mont Jones should fill in at outside linebacker.

OL Jason Peters Visits Seahawks; RT Abe Lucas Not Expected Back Until Midseason

Jason Peters became the rare NFL player to log a 20th season, with the Seahawks being the vehicle for the accomplished offensive lineman to reach that milestone. With Seattle dealing with similar injury trouble a year later, the team is looking into the likely Hall of Famer once again.

The Seahawks hosted Peters for a recent visit, but he left without signing, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates. Although KPRC2′s Aaron Wilson adds that no deal is imminent between the Seahawks and Peters, it is certainly notable that both the player is still chugging along at 42 and that a team that changed coaching staffs still has him on the radar.

Seattle has been dealing with multiple injuries at right tackle to start the season, with Abe Lucas starting the year on the PUP list and George Fant landing on IR after a Week 1 knee injury. Peters appeared in eight games for the Seahawks last season, making two starts at right tackle. Peters often replaced Lucas, who played through a nagging knee issue that required corrective surgery during the offseason. Originally a 2004 UDFA who has defied odds to play 248 career games, Peters logged 217 offensive snaps last season.

Fant was the team’s original solution at right tackle. Seattle signed him to a two-year, $9.1MM contract in March as a premium swing tackle who could start on the right side until Lucas’ return. But with Fant’s second Seattle stint producing an early IR trip and Lucas not expected back before midseason, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, the Seahawks are considering a reunion with Peters to help them sustain their 3-0 start.

Fourth-year tackle Stone Forsythe took over the right tackle job after Fant went down in Week 1 and has started both games since, leaving the Seahawks precariously thin at left tackle. Forsythe started two games there last season in place of an injured Charles Cross, but no other player on Seattle’s roster has NFL experience at the position. Peters would come in as a more reliable, proven player than McClendon Curtis or Michael Jerrell, with the ability to quickly step in at either tackle spot if more injuries occur.

The Seahawks are one of five undefeated teams in the NFL through three weeks, leading the NFC West behind a strong start from Geno Smith and a revitalized defense under new head coach Mike Macdonald. Smith’s 787 passing yards are third in the league, while the defense is ranked in the top three in points, yards, and yards per play allowed. Injuries have been an issue, with 18 players appearing on the team’s Week 3 injury report, which is why Seattle will want to remain proactive in adding depth like Peters.

Lucas’ name is not part of that injured contingent, since he is off the active roster, but the news of the former third-round pick being sidelined until midseason is certainly notable. Lucas joined Cross in becoming an instant starter in 2022, playing 16 games that year. Knee trouble — an issue Pete Carroll dubbed “chronic” — has since caused him to miss 14, and a midseason return goal threatens to run that count toward 20. With Macdonald’s staff now running the show, Lucas is running out of time to show he can be a reliable option for the Seahawks on the right side.

NFC Injury Updates: Lewis, Murphy, Darnold

After the high of getting their first win this past weekend, it’s a tough swing back down as the Panthers will see starting left guard Damien Lewis miss at least one game with an elbow injury, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. Schultz tells us that, while Lewis will likely avoid a stint on injured reserve, he will have to miss some time.

While the quarterback play has suffered up until this past week, Carolina has seen some pretty solid offensive line play so far this season. In fact, Lewis, who grades out as the 25th-best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), has, so far, graded out as the team’s fifth-best player on offense. Lewis is the only one who’s missed time on an otherwise stalwart line, with Chandler Zavala filling in during Lewis’s short absence.

A tear in Lewis’s elbow will likely require Zavala’s presence once again. While he will definitely miss one game, Lewis plans to eventually play through the injury. The team will miss his play, but the hope is that he won’t be gone for long.

Here are a couple other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • The Seahawks have enjoyed the benefits of a talented defensive line this season, one that has been boosted by the contributions of rookie first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy. The second defensive player taken off the board last April, Murphy is expected to miss some time with a hamstring injury, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Seattle doesn’t intend to put him on IR for now, but they’ll be decidedly careful not to rush the rookie back.
  • Late in the team’s win over the Texans this past weekend, the Vikings experienced a scare when starting quarterback Sam Darnold took a low hit from former Minnesota-favorite Danielle Hunter. Darnold limped to the sideline, where he sat out one play before running back onto the field. Tests on Monday revealed a bruise but no structural damage to Darnold’s left knee, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. The team will experience a collective sigh of relief to realize that their quarterback avoided serious injury just weeks after that of rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/24/24

Here are Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: DB Morice Norris

Green Bay Packers

  • Released: TE Johnny Lumpkin

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Released: TE Luke Benson, CB Nehemiah Shelton

New England Patriots

  • Signed: WR John Jiles

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: LB Marcus Haynes
  • Released: TE Matt Sokol

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This year’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant,’ Key did not make the Jets’ initial 53-man roster. The 24-year-old was retained via the practice squad, but he did not see any regular season action. Now a free agent, Key will look to latch on with another organization.

Ross signed with the Eagles in May as part of his bid to return to the NFL. The former Combine 40-yard dash record holder was released during roster cutdowns, however, after he was unable to carve out a depth role on offense. Ross will rejoin the team in a bid to provide Philadelphia with a complementary receiving option as the team deals with a number of injuries at the WR spot.