Earl Thomas On Seahawks Exit
As he did during minicamp, Bobby Wagner attended Seahawks practice but merely as an observer. Pete Carroll confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson) the Seahawks and their four-time All-Pro linebacker are discussing an extension but did not elaborate on where the sides are in the process. Longtime Wagner linebacker sidekick K.J. Wright believes a deal is imminent, however. Any extension would probably have to make Wagner the highest-paid off-ball linebacker, and while Deion Jones‘ recent Falcons re-up bridged the gap between C.J. Mosley‘s $17MM-AAV pact and the field, the Jets linebacker still makes over $2.5MM per year more than any other traditional ‘backer. Wagner has confirmed he wants to exceed Mosley’s deal, and this may lead to the eighth-year standout continuing his hold-in strategy.
- Earl Thomas skipped all Seahawks activities before making a pre-Week 1 return last year. Now with the Ravens, Thomas said (via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson, video link) Carroll communicated to him the week of his season-ending injury indicating an interest in working out a long-term deal. The reason Thomas then flipped off Carroll as he was being carted away? The three-time All-Pro did not believe Carroll was being honest with him. He and Carroll have not spoken since. The Seahawks were not linked to a potential Thomas reunion this offseason.
Ziggy Ansah Avoids PUP List
Although Seahawks fans are surely frustrated by the surprising and controversial six-game suspension for DT Jarran Reed, they will be happy to hear that new defensive end Ezekiel Ansah will avoid the PUP list and will open training camp on the active roster. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network passes along the good news (via Twitter), though he cautions that Ansah will be limited early as he continues to rebuild strength in his shoulder.
But as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes, the fact that Ansah will not start training camp on the PUP list indicates that his recovery has gone at least as well as expected thus far. Although reports from May indicated that Ansah could miss games, today’s news suggests he could be ready for Week 1.
Health, of course, has been an issue for the former Lions standout. The 30-year-old has 48 career sacks to his credit, including 14.5 from his Pro Bowl campaign in 2015. He also notched 12 sacks in 2017, but the years sandwiched in between have been filled with injuries and disappointment. Last year, Ansah registered four sacks in seven games after the Lions hit him with the pricey franchise tag.
In case you missed it, the Seahawks bolstered their D-line by signing Earl Mitchell earlier today.
Seahawks, DT Earl Mitchell Agree To Deal
After a methodical approach to defensive line upgrades this offseason, the Seahawks moved quickly this week. Jarran Reed‘s suspension prompted the team to revisit Earl Mitchell, who agreed to terms Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Mitchell was one of a few defensive tackles to visit Seattle this offseason, making his trip in March. The team passed at that point and did the same after Corey Liuget paid a visit in April. The Seahawks opted for Al Woods, who joined Liuget on that visit. Now, the team — the only one connected to Mitchell this offseason — will employ both Woods and Mitchell.
News of Reed’s six-game ban led the Seahawks to pursue outside help, and Mitchell will join Woods, Poona Ford, Quinton Jefferson and Jamie Meder as key Seattle interior linemen. Mitchell, 31, has started for three teams in a nine-year career. Most recently, he worked as a first-stringer for the 49ers, joining their crew of first-round defensive line investments. Mitchell has started 66 games for the Texans, Dolphins and 49ers.
After failing to find a trade partner, the 49ers released Mitchell just before free agency. He spent four seasons in Houston, three in Miami and will likely serve as a lower-cost option for a Seahawks team that will be without Reed (10.5 sacks in 2018) for six games.
In addition to the Mitchell signing, Seattle also signed WR Daniel Williams. To make room, the club waived RB Marcelias Sutton and CB Derrek Thomas.
NFC West Rumors: Seahawks, Rams, Kupp
You can expect the Seahawks to add a veteran defensive tackle following Jarran Reed‘s suspension, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets. He also offers a couple of names to keep an eye on: Earl Mitchell and Corey Liuget have both been linked to Seattle and are still available.
Here’s more from the NFC West:
- Rams receiver Cooper Kupp will not have to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Steve Wyche of NFL Media tweets. That’s huge for Kupp, who tore his left ACL in November. The receiver has been vocal about his desire to play in Week 1 and it sounds like he’ll be ready to go for the opener if all goes well from here. Last year, Kupp had 40 catches for 566 yards and six scores before succumbing to injury.
- A minor bit of news – Cardinals lineman Justin Pugh will shift from right guard back to his native left guard this season (Twitter link via Pugh). Pugh, 29 in August, started in all seven of his games for the Cardinals last year before landing on IR in November. The former first-round pick, unfortunately, has not played a full season since his 2013 rookie year.
Seahawks’ Jarran Reed Suspended
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed has been suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The ban stems from a 2017 violation of the personal conduct policy.
As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes, the Bellevue Police Department recommended that Reed be charged with fourth-degree assault in connection with a domestic violence incident that occurred in April 2017, but the city’s prosecuting office did not believe there was sufficient evidence to prove the crime occurred, so it declined to pursue the matter. As such, Reed was never arrested or charged
According to the police report, Reed and his girlfriend got into an argument at Reed’s home, and Reed allegedly grabbed the woman’s throat and pulled her into the bathroom. Shortly thereafter, the woman claimed that Reed grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her across a bedroom floor and then down several stairs before she broke free.
The NFL did its own investigation and opted to suspend Reed 27 months after the incident. The league also denied Reed an appeal.
Of course, this will lead to obvious questions as to why Reed was suspended — and why it took so long to do it — when the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill escaped league discipline. The NFL did not respond to the Seattle Times’ request for further comment on the matter.
Reed underwent sports hernia surgery in April but was on track to participate in training camp. Now, he’ll have to wait until at least October to see live action.
The Seahawks were banking on a big season from Reed, who is coming off of a season with 10.5 sacks as a starter. He was also an extension candidate, but those plans may now be put on hold.
The Seahawks will have to generate pass pressure from elsewhere, and that won’t be an easy task after the trade of Frank Clark. Poona Ford and first-round pick L.J. Collier will have to carry much of the load, unless the team is able to find help elsewhere.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner To Report To Camp
Seahawks star linebacker Bobby Wagner is expected to show up for training camp on Wednesday, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Wagner doesn’t have a new deal in hand yet, but Rapoport hears that he wants to continue to be a leader in the locker room and set an example. 
[RELATED: Extension Candidate – Bobby Wagner]
Wagner might take the cautious approach and avoid putting himself in harm’s way, Rapoport hears, but he’ll be there with his teammates. Ultimately, it’s believed that the two sides will come to an accord before the season gets underway in September.
Wagner is likely looking to top the $17MM payout that C.J. Mosley landed from the Jets in free agency, which is understandable. Mosley is a good player in his own right, but Wagner is a five-time Pro Bowler, four-time First Team All-Pro, and a bonafide tackling machine.
Interestingly, Wagner is representing himself as he guns for his next big payday.
Seahawks Interested In Acquiring DT Help
With Jarran Reed set to be suspended for more than a third of the Seahawks’ games this season, the team is looking for upgrades. The Seahawks plan to pursue defensive tackle depth from outside the organization, Albert Breer of SI.com notes.
The Seahawks’ defensive line will look considerably different in Week 1, and it may be lacking for impact talent. Frank Clark is now in Kansas City, and Ziggy Ansah is not certain to be ready by Seattle’s opener. With Reed now out of the early-season picture, the Seahawks’ mix of younger players and lower-profile veterans will be tested.
Clark and Reed combined for 23.5 sacks last season; no other Seahawk registered more than three. One of those three-sack artists was Quinton Jefferson, who remains with the team. The Seahawks appear to like their younger options, second-year UDFA tackle Poona Ford chief among them, with Breer indicating this outside search is for depth. Jefferson saw more time than Ford last season, playing 604 snaps, but Pro Football Focus graded Ford’s smaller sample (265 snaps) as dominant.
The team also signed Al Woods and Jamie Meder this offseason. Woods is a 10th-year veteran who played for the 2011 Seahawks (before starting 43 games from 2013-18). This could represent an opportunity for veterans who were in Seattle earlier this year. Corey Liuget joined Woods in trekking to the Pacific Northwest for a visit in April; the longtime Chargers starter, 29, remains unsigned. So does former Texans, Dolphins and 49ers starter Earl Mitchell. The 31-year-old veteran visited with the Seahawks in March.
Ansah To Open TC On PUP; Wagner To Get Extension Before Regular Season?
- This doesn’t come as much of a surprise given earlier reports that new Seahawks defensive end Ezekiel Ansah could miss at least the first month of the regular season, but Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that Ansah is expected to open training camp on the PUP list. It remains to be seen if Ansah will, in fact, miss any regular season action, though Condotta says there should be more clarity on that front this week.
- Condotta also believes that Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner will get an extension before the season begins, and it could happen as soon as this week.
Seahawks Place Ben Burr-Kirven On Active/PUP
- Seahawks rookie linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven has been placed on the active/physically unable to perform list, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Like active/NFI, active/PUP won’t force Burr-Kirven to miss any time, but the designation is notable because the first-year defender recently underwent sports hernia surgery. An extremely athletic fifth-round pick, BBK is expected to be ready for training camp, per Seattle head coach Pete Carroll.
Pete Carroll Optimistic About C.J. Prosise
- Seahawks RB C.J. Prosise may be a release candidate, but Seattle head coach Pete Carroll says the oft-injured tailback is very much in the mix for a roster spot. Carroll said, per John Boyle of Seahawks.com, “[Prosise] has been fit throughout, he’s really strong, worked out really hard in the offseason to get his strength right, and his weight is up, but he’s fit and has really been able to do a little bit of everything. So to add him into the competition is really nice. So we’re fired up about C.J. being back.”