The 2021-22 NFL regular season is only a week away and the Seattle Seahawks seem to be taking to the phrase “new year, new me.” All NFL teams were required to send in their (initial) 53-man rosters for the regular season. The Seahawks have some notable additions and cuts from their initial final roster.
It seems the Seahawks’ position for second outside cornerback is set with free-agent signing Akhello Witherspoon, being listed as first on the depth chart despite his less-than-stellar play during the preseason. Regarding the cornerback competition, notable training camp and preseason standout Gavin Heslop was cut — and the final depth chart leaves D.J. Reed as the number one cornerback on the roster, Akhello Witherspoon as the CB2 and Ugo Amadi as the same starting nickelback he was last season. Additionally, rookie Tre Brown, fourth-year veteran Tre Flowers and recently acquired veteran CB Sidney Jones are all serving as backups.
Also notable is the final running back rotation. The Seahawks, in previous seasons, have decided to go with four running backs to start the season. They’ve also been ravaged with injuries at the position in consecutive seasons. First-year offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has a tendency to send his running backs out wide as receivers. These components seem to have resulted in the Seahawks keeping five running backs on the final roster. Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, Alex Collins, DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer got the active roster nods to start the season.
Although unusual for the Seahawks, this is not necessarily surprising. However, the depth chart is another matter entirely.
Fourth year running back Rashaad Penny gets the nod as the backup to incumbent starter Chris Carson, despite Alex Collins’ notable play during the preseason. Rashaad Penny, despite flashes of brilliance when healthy, hasn’t been able to do exactly that: stay healthy.
With Carson being signed to a three-year deal this offseason and Penny being denied his fifth-year contract option by the Seahawks, as well as Homer and Dallas both having two years left on their deals, it seems unlikely Penny will return after this season. His inclusion in the final 53 is puzzling. However, the Seahawks have a habit of sticking with players with injury histories, take for instance Paul Richardson and C.J. Prosise.
All being said, the five-man running back room and Shane Waldron’s tendency to line halfbacks out wide might be the reason for the next interesting takeaway on this roster: there are only four wide receivers.
Thousand-yard receivers Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf locked up their starting spots, to no surprise. Then the 2021 second-round pick D’Wayne Eskridge and second-year player Freddie Swain round up a surprisingly thin wide receiver core.
Probably the most notable cut from the position group is second-year receiver Penny Hart. Hart has made some notable plays this season and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had previously praised Hart’s standout training camp performance and flexibility. It’s not uncommon for the Seahawks to bring back previously cut players for the practice squad as soon as they can, so Hart might find his way back to the Seahawks if he clears waivers.
Another significant, but perhaps less-remarkable development is the Seahawks keeping three quarterbacks on the roster. Russell Wilson is unsurprisingly the starter, but behind him is Geno Smith (now entering his third season on the Seahawks) and Sean Mannion, the former Oregon State quarterback and six-year NFL journeyman.
Carroll stated last season he liked the idea of an off-site quarterback, such as what Josh McCown was last year for the Eagles, in any situation of injury or COVID-related emergency.
It also isn’t uncommon for NFL teams to add someone to their final roster and demote them to the practice squad or waive them in cases of late free-agent signings or trades.
Considering the Seahawks only have three players listed officially as linebackers, have continued questions at cornerback and have former multi-year starters still in free agency, (K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman), it is possible either Smith or Mannion is keeping a seat warm for an incoming signing.
Speaking of the linebacker situation, the Seahawks only have three players officially listed as linebackers for the 2021-22 roster: Bobby Wagner, Cody Barton and Jordyn Brooks. However, this lineup is slightly misleading.
Darrell Taylor, although drafted as a defensive end, has been used in what is known as a LEO position, meaning he lines up in a linebacker spot but is typically used to rush the passer. The Seahawks also used traditional defensive lineman Alton Robinson in coverage several times throughout the preseason and played fullback Nick Bellore as a linebacker.
They do have three officially- listed linebackers, but not really. It’s football. It’s weird. Football is weird.
Despite all of these unusual roster developments for the Seahawks, it is also worth noting that this roster is probably going to change a lot between now and the opener on Sept. 12 against the Indianapolis Colts. However, these first impressions of the roster seem to add credence to the offseason rumors that the Seahawks want to be different than what they have been. So far, it seems to be putting their money where their mouth is.
This story has been edited to correct that Rashaad Penny, not Chris Carson, was denied his fifth-year option.
Teren Kowatsch can be reached at [email protected]