Seahawks Get Below Roster Limit
The Seahawks got their roster down to 52 players today. The organization made the following moves:
Released
Waived
- DT Myles Adams
- TE Ian Bunting
- T Tommy Champion
- S Aashari Crosswell
- LB Aaron Donkor
- G Greg Eiland
- WR Aaron Fuller
- WR Penny Hart
- CB Gavin Heslop
- DT Jarrod Hewitt
- G Jared Hocker
- WR Cade Johnson
- RB Josh Johnson
- G Pier-Olivier Lestage
- C Brad Lundblade
- TE Tyler Mabry
- S Joshua Moon
- CB John Reid
- LB Jon Rhattigan
- WR Darece Roberson Jr.
- CB Will Sunderland
- TE Cam Sutton
- WR Cody Thompson
- WR Travis Toivonen
- WR Connor Wedington
- LB Lakiem Williams
The extra roster spot is reserved for cornerback Sidney Jones once the team completes their trade with the Jaguars.
Simmons emerged as a potential piece for the Seahawks in 2020. After seeing time in only six games through his first two professional seasons, the offensive lineman started six of his 14 games for Seattle last season while appearing on 56-percent of the team’s offensive snaps.
Seahawks To Waive CB John Reid
John Reid has landed in the news a few times over the past several days. Shortly after acquiring the second-year cornerback via trade, the Seahawks are waiving him, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Amid a busy stretch for the Texans at cornerback, they shipped Reid to Seattle. While this trade did not lead to the 2020 fourth-round pick commandeering a roster spot, it would not be surprising if Reid landed on Seattle’s 16-man practice squad — should he clear waivers.
The Texans took Reid 141st overall in 2020 and used him in 13 games. Reid logged 145 defensive snaps during his rookie year. While the 5-foot-10 corner does not have much NFL experience, he did have a four-season role with the Nittany Lions, with whom he intercepted seven passes from 2015-19.
It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks’ cornerback group looks when they take the field in Week 1. They added Ahkello Witherspoon and used a fourth-round pick on Tre Brown this year, but the team did not do too much to address this position after Shaquill Griffin‘s free agency exit.
Jaguars Trade CB Sidney Jones To Seahawks
Sidney Jones is heading to Seattle. The Jaguars announced that they’ve traded the cornerback to the Seahawks. Jacksonville will acquire a 2022 sixth-round pick in the trade, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
The former second-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Eagles, but he only saw time in 22 games (eight starts) during his stint in Philly. After getting waived at the end of the 2020 preseason, Jones caught on with the Jaguars, and he proceeded to have a career season for his new team. The cornerback saw time in nine games (six starts) for Jacksonville, finishing with 26 tackles, nine passes defended, and a pair of interceptions.
Jones was expected to slot in as a backup for Jacksonville in 2021, and he’ll see a similar role in Seattle. Considering the Seahawks only gave up a late-round pick for the 25-year-old, it’s presumably a low-risk move with upside. Tre Flowers and Ahkello Witherspoon are listed as starters for Seattle, but Jones could compete with the likes of John Reid, D.J. Reed, Tre Brown, and Will Sunderland for backup reps.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/30/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to pare their rosters down to 53 players.
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DB Chris Banjo, DL Josh Mauro
- Waived: WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jace Whittaker, S James Wiggins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Terrance Smith
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Jordan Phillips
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DT Eli Ankou, DL Zac Dawe, S Dwayne Johnson Jr., DE Kobe Jones, WR Chris Rowland, LB Tuzar Skipper
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Deon Cain, WR Devin Gray, WR Siaosi Mariner
- Released: TE Eric Tomlinson
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Tim Harris, WR Brandon Powell, RB Kerrith Whyte
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Mike Horton, S Jalen Julius, OL Aaron Monteiro
Cleveland Browns
- Released: WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: CB Brian Allen, TE Jordan Franks, OL Colby Gossett, DE Porter Gustin, QB Kyle Lauletta, DE Cameron Malveaux, TE Kyle Markway, S Jovante Moffatt, S Sheldrick Redwine, CB Manny Rugamba, LB Tegray Scales, DE Curtis Weaver, DT Marvin Wilson
- Placed on IR: OT Greg Senat
Chicago Bears
- Released: OL Adam Redmond
- Waived: TE Scooter Harrington
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: S Steven Parker
Denver Broncos
- Waived: TE Shaun Beyer, WR Tyrie Cleveland, TE Austin Fort, OT Drew Himmelman, WR Kendall Hinton, DE Isaiah Mack, CB Mac McCain, FB Adam Prentice, LB Curtis Robinson, QB Brett Rypien, OL Austin Schlottmann, RB Stevie Scott, CB Saivion Smith, LB Derrek Tuszka, WR Seth Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, DT Miles Brown, CB Mike Ford, OL Evan Heim, S Alijah Holder, WR Damion Ratley
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Laremy Tunsil
- Waived/injured: CB Cornell Armstrong, LB Tae Davis
- Waived: DB Shyheim Carter, OL Danny Isidora, TE Ryan Izzo, OL Carson Green, RB Buddy Howell
- Released: QB Jeff Driskel
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz; the trio landed on the coronavirus list due to being high-risk close contacts, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Quenton Nelson
- Waived: CB Holton Hill, LB Isaiah Kaufusi
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: CB Corey Straughter
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Josh Allen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: CB Zayne Anderson, WR Maurice Ffrench, RBDerrick Gore, DB Devon Key, RB Darwin Thompson, OL Darryl Williams
- Traded: OL Yasir Durant (to Patriots for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Darron Lee
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Jessie Lemonier
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Brontae Harris, WR Jeremiah Haydel, G Jeremiah Kolone, G Jordan Meredith, DB Donovan Olumba, LB Troy Warner
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: S Nate Holley, WR Khalil McClain, DE Tyshun Render, TE Carl Tucker
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Robert Foster
New England Patriots
- Waived: S Adrian Colbert, DL Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon
- Traded for: OL Yasir Durant (via Chiefs for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: S Eric Burrell, OG Derrick Kelly, CB Natrell Jamerson, DL R.J. McIntosh, OL Christian Montano, LB Shaq Smith
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Lawrence Cager, S J.T. Hassell, CB Lamar Jackson, OL Corey Levin, Jeremiah Valoaga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: OL Ross Pierschbacher
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Rico Bussey, LS Kameron Canaday, LB Jamar Watson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: TE Ian Bunting, WR Darece Roberson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Joseph Jones, DT Kobe Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Nate Davis
- Waived/injured: OL Chandon Herring
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Brent Qvale (story)
Washington Football Team
- Waived: WR Tony Brown, S Cole Luke, CB Linden Stephens, WR Isaiah Wright
- Released: DT Devaroe Lawrence, LB Joe Walker
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/26/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Robert Alford
Buffalo Bills
- Released from IR via injury settlement: G Forrest Lamp
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: K Dominik Eberle
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR Javon Wims
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Eric Fisher, G Quenton Nelson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Ian Bunting
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Nate Brooks, RB Javian Hawkins, LB Cassh Maluia
- Placed on IR: DL Kyle Peko
Washington Football Team
- Re-signed: C Jon Toth
- Waived: TE Temarrick Hemingway
Latest On Seahawks, Duane Brown
Duane Brown‘s hold-in effort has now long surpassed Jamal Adams‘, with the Seahawks left tackle having observed the team’s practices for nearly a month. The team is looking into a compromise.
The Seahawks are now looking into adjusting Brown’s 2021 compensation, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (video link). They are not believed to be eyeing a new contract for Brown — at least, not at this point — but are now aiming to find a creative solution to meet the soon-to-be 36-year-old blocker in the middle. Brown’s deal expires at season’s end; he has long sought an extension at a higher rate, skipping minicamp and training camp in order to land one.
Given Brown’s history, expecting him to back down after the team adjusts some of the Pro Bowl- or participation-based incentives already included in his deal might be optimistic. The accomplished tackle held out well into the 2017 season, when the Texans traded him to the Seahawks, and he has the support of Russell Wilson this time around.
Seattle also did not blink in its most recent staredown, which ended with Adams signing after the team threatened to withdraw its offer. The Seahawks would prefer to have Brown play out his contract year, in order to see how much he has left in his 14th season, before reassessing the situation in 2022. With the tackle market having changed substantially since Brown signed his three-year, $34.5MM extension in 2018, the veteran understandably wants to cash in without going through another prove-it year.
TE Luke Willson Announces Retirement
Luke Willson worked out for the Seahawks on Monday and signed to rejoin the team Tuesday. The Seahawks released him a day later, and the veteran tight end has subsequently announced his retirement.
Willson will wrap his career after eight seasons. He revealed Wednesday, via Twitter, he dealt with a heart issue this offseason — a severe pericardial effusion, which is a fluid buildup around the heart — that required a lengthy hospital stay. After one day back with the Seahawks, the 31-year-old veteran reversed course and called it quits. The Seahawks released Willson after he informed the team of his retirement plans Tuesday night, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.
A fifth-round Seahawks pick in 2013, Willson played in 96 games (counting playoffs) for the team. While not known as a pure receiving tight end, Willson caught 11 TD passes during his first Seattle stint. The Rice alum added a playoff touchdown as well, scoring from 25 yards out in the Seahawks’ divisional-round win over the Panthers in 2014. Willson totaled four catches for 68 yards in that 31-17 Seattle win. A week later, Willson’s two-point conversion grab helped the Seahawks erase a 16-point second-half deficit against the Packers en route to Super Bowl XLIX.
The Seahawks are currently down Colby Parkinson, who suffered a foot fracture for the second straight year, but have Gerald Everett and holdover Will Dissly at the position. Willson was to provide depth, a role he played in 2019 and at the end of last season.
Willson caught on with the Lions in 2018 and joined the Raiders in 2019, receiving some Hard Knocks screen time. After the Raiders released him, he wound up back with the Seahawks. After a Ravens deal in 2020 also led to a release, he ended up playing his final games as a member of the Seahawks last season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/24/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here. Teams had until 3pm today to cut their rosters down to 80 players.
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: RB Javian Hawkins, LB Shareef Miller, DL Olive Sagapolu, WR Austin Trammell, OL Willie Wright
- Placed on IR: QB A.J. McCarron (story)
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: QB Kenji Bahar
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed: WR Rico Gafford (from Cardinals), DT Joey Ivie (from Colts)
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cole Beasley, DT Vernon Butler, WR Gabriel Davis, DT Star Lotulelei
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: K Dominik Eberle
- Waived: S LaDarius Wiley
Cleveland Browns
- Suspended two games: WR Davion Davis; Davis was arrested for DUI in 2019
- Released from IR via injury settlement: K Cody Parkey
Denver Broncos
- Waived: WR Branden Mack, LB Josh Watson
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: S Will Redmond
- Waived: DL Josh Avery
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived/injured: TE Noah Togiai
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: OL Derwin Gray, CB Jameson Houston, DT Kenny Randall
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: LB Darron Lee
- Waived: WR Marcell Ateman
- Waived/injured: DL Darius Stills
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LS Ryan Langan, WR Austin Proehl, TE Matt Seybert, OT Kyle Spalding
- Waived/injured: LB Damon Lloyd, DL Chris Okoye
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: TE Kyle Markway
New England Patriots
- Waived: DB Malik Gant, LS Brian Khoury, LB Cassh Maluia, OL R.J. Prince, WR Devin Ross
- Placed on IR: OL Marcus Martin
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: TE Rysen John, CB Quincy Wilson
- Waived: LS Carson Tinker
- Waived/injured: DB Montre Hartage, TE Cole Hikutini
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OT Casey Tucker
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: DE Alex Tchangam
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: K Ryan Succop
- Waived/injured: OT Chidi Okeke
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: CB Kevin Peterson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Nick Dzubnar, RB Jeremy McNichols
Washington Football Team
- Waived: CB Jordan Brown, OT Rick Leonard, LB Justin Phillips, DT Justus Reed, C Jon Toth
Seahawks To Sign Luke Willson, Release Pierre Desir
The John Reid trade did not mark the only cornerback transaction for the Seahawks on Tuesday afternoon. They are releasing Pierre Desir, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Desir’s surprising release will clear a roster spot for Luke Willson, whom Rapoport adds will return to the Seahawks. Willson, 31, made a return visit to Seattle on Monday. The veteran tight end has twice headed elsewhere, but he will once again return to the Pacific Northwest and aim to contribute as a role player.
The Seahawks originally drafted Willson in the 2013 fifth round. He signed with the Lions in 2018 and spent time with the Raiders in the summer of 2019, earning some Hard Knocks screen time with the latter, but ended up back in Seattle for the ’19 season. After a short stint with the Ravens last year, Willson re-signed with the Seahawks in December. They will now add him to a group that is again dealing with a notable injury.
Colby Parkinson is rehabbing from a second foot fracture. Willson will team with Will Dissly and free agency addition Gerald Everett, though the veteran should not be expected to play a big part in Seattle’s passing game. Willson has not surpassed 200 receiving yards in a season since 2016.
Desir’s departure is somewhat strange for a team that is not exactly oozing high-end cornerback talent. Though, it does continue a trend for the soon-to-be 31-year-old defender. The Colts cut Desir in March 2020, and the Jets ended up cutting him during the season.
Desir, who caught on with the Ravens last year, has been with five teams — including two Seahawks stints, the previous one coming from 2016-17 — but has enjoyed quality stretches. He worked as a full-time starter in 2018 and ’19 with the Colts, who extended him in 2019. The former Division II standout will look for a new home ahead of what would be his eighth NFL season.
Seahawks To Acquire Texans CB John Reid
Rather than cutting John Reid, the Texans found an 11th-hour taker for the second-year cornerback. The Seahawks are acquiring Reid, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Texans had planned to merely waive the 2020 draftee ahead of the 3pm CT deadline for teams to trim their rosters to 80 players, but they will now obtain something in return.
Seattle will send Houston a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft. This marks the second straight day the Texans have made a trade involving both a cornerback and a seventh-round pick. Houston sent a 2022 seventh to Green Bay for Ka’Dar Hollman on Monday — a move that helped pave Reid’s way out of town.
The Penn State product, however, generated interest and will have a chance to stick with the Seahawks. Reid played in 13 Texans games last season and made 13 tackles. Houston used Reid on 145 defensive snaps during his rookie year. Reid checks in at just 5-foot-10, which is a bit shorter than the corners the Seahawks usually target. He did have a four-season role with the Nittany Lions, intercepting seven passes from 2015-19.
The Seahawks, who lost Shaquill Griffin in free agency, have made a few additions at this position this year. They signed Ahkello Witherspoon, brought back Damarious Randall — whom they are moving back to corner after his years-long run at safety — and drafted Tre Brown in Round 4.