Ziggy Ansah Returns To Practice
Despite earlier reports suggesting that he could miss at least a month of the regular season, we heard a few weeks ago that new Seahawks defensive end Ziggy Ansah was expected to be ready for Week 1.
And that timeline still seems accurate, as Brady Henderson of ESPN.com writes that Ansah practiced for the first time with his Seattle teammates today. Henderson says that Ansah, who had been limited to training on side fields, was seen taking part in warmups and positional drills. The longtime Lion is trying to rebuild strength in his surgically-repaired shoulder and to recover from a more recent groin injury.
Since Seattle likes to have players returning from long, injury-related absences to practice for at least two weeks prior to suiting up for game action, it’s significant that Ansah returned to the practice field 12 days before the team’s September 8 opener against Cincinnati. Head coach Pete Carroll said, “[j]ust to get the newness out of him and have a couple days to get back to practice again, I think will be really important to him … He has worked really hard on the outside, he’s been doing all kinds of drills and movement stuff and throwing heavy things and butting into stuff and all that to get ready and we feel very secure that he’s ready to go now.”
Ansah will not play in the team’s preseason finale, but his presence should be a boost to a Seattle pass rush that lost Frank Clark and will be without Jarran Reed for the first six games of the season.
Seahawks WR David Moore To Avoid IR
Seahawks wideout David Moore has received a second opinion on his shoulder injury, and the opinion is favorable. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Moore will not be placed on IR and is expected to be back sooner rather than later (Twitter link). RapSheet characterizes the development as “surprisingly positive news.”
Indeed, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll confirmed that Moore would open the season on the 53-man roster, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets. Moore will still miss the start of the regular season, but his absence will be shorter than was initially expected.
Moore, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his humerus, is slated to play a key role for Seattle as it ushers in the post-Doug Baldwin era. Moore, whom the Seahawks selected in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, posted 26 catches for 445 yards and five touchdowns last season. He started seven games for the club and should serve as a solid option for Russell Wilson.
The news on Moore is especially welcome since rookie receiver D.K. Metcalf recently underwent knee surgery and is uncertain for Week 1.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/19
It was a busy day in the NFL as teams made early cuts in advance of the 53-man deadline. We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived/Injured: T Dieugot Joseph
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Jacob Ohnesorge
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Anthony Fish Smithson
Detroit Lions
- Released: QB David Fales
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: FB John Lovett
New England Patriots
- Waived/Injured: WR Maurice Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Hayes Pullard, S Jason Thompson
- Waived: LB Asantay Brown, S Tre Sullivan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed: CB Jhavonte Dean
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Chris Campbell, RB Brandon Wilds, WR Nick Williams
- Waived: OL Willie Beavers, OL Dillon Day
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Nyqwan Murray, WR Kahlil Lewis
- Waived: WR Amara Darboh
- Placed on IR: DL Nazair Jones, CB Kalan Reed
Texans’ Jadeveon Clowney Wants Trade To Seahawks Or Eagles
Jadeveon Clowney wants the Texans to trade him, and he has a couple of destinations in mind. The standout edge rusher views the Seahawks and Eagles as his preferred destinations, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) hears. 
Meanwhile, Clowney has also met in person with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and other members of Miami’s brass, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Wilson hears the same thing, though he notes that the Dolphins are not his first-choice destination. On the flipside, the Dolphins would be open to working out a lucrative extension with Clowney, once he’s eligible.
As an unsigned franchise player, Clowney does have some leverage in this matter. The Texans have been unwilling to commit to him for the last few offseasons and he might have enough juice to force a trade to the Seahawks, Eagles, or another contender.
The Texans, ideally, would like to keep Clowney, though they’ve previously set an asking price. In the spring, it was believed that Clowney could be had for a second-round pick (Twitter link via Albert Breer of The MMQB).
After firing his agent on Tuesday afternoon, it appears that Clowney is serious about landing the long-term deal he desires.
Seahawks Banged Up At Wide Receiver
Shifting first to some issues the Seahawks’ Week 1 contingent may have, here is the latest from the West divisions:
- Two key Seahawks wide receivers may not be ready for the team’s 2019 opener. D.K. Metcalf underwent knee surgery this week and is uncertain for Week 1, while Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets David Moore will not be ready for Seattle’s 2019 debut. Moore will seek a second opinion on a shoulder injury, one Pelissero notes is not expected to require surgery. But Pete Carroll confirmed Moore (26 receptions for 445 yards and five TDs in 2018) will not suit up in Week 1. Moore and Metcalf are expected to play key roles for the post-Doug Baldwin Seahawks. They may have to supplement Tyler Lockett with lower-profile players early.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/19
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Braxton Miller
- Waived: TE Mik’Quan Deane
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Fisayo Awolaja
- Waived: LS Nick Moore
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OT Brian Wallace
- Waived: S Jalen Harvey
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/19
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Erik Magnuson
- Placed on IR: OL Garrett McGhin (ankle)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB James Williams
- Waived: DE Dadi Nicolas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Jalen Tolliver
- Waived: G Abdul Beecham
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: LS Mike Windt
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR T.J. Rahming
- Waived/injured: WR Saeed Blacknall
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR/KR Chris Thompson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Landon Turner
- Placed on IR: G Demetrius Knox
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/19
Here are today’s minor moves, which will be updated throughout the night:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed: DE Dare Odeyingbo
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Ben Johnson
- Waived: LB Josh Corcoran
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Drew Lewis
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Terrell Sinkfield
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived off IR: CB Davante Davis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed: WR Emanuel Hall
- Waived: S Micah Abernathy
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the night.
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: P Sean Smith
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR Emanuel Hall
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: T Kent Perkins
Green Bay Packers
- Waived/failed physical: CB Derrick Jones
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Josh Corcoran
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Jake Powell
- Placed on IR: WR Amba Etta-Tawo
- Waived: DE Alex Jenkins
- Waived/injured: TE Isaiah Searight
New York Jets
- Waived: TE Nick Truesdell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Aziz Shittu
- Waived/injured: S Blake Countess
- Reverts to IR: WR Shelton Gibson
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: TE Tyrone Swoopes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: DE Dare Odeyingbo
George Fant Out Multiple Weeks
- The Seahawks have used George Fant as a starter in 17 games over the past three seasons and are expected to keep him around in 2019 as a swing tackle. But a second-degree ankle sprain will shelve Fant for multiple weeks, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com notes.