Seahawks add another LB!
Macdonald claims familiar player off waivers, 10/23/2024
Stone Forsythe is on IR, Abe Lucas is almost off of IR, and the Seahawks added a second linebacker to the roster hours after trading Jerome Baker for Ernest Jones. Seattle’s 53-man roster is shuffling faster than the newsletter can keep up.
Josh Ross played linebacker for Mike Macdonald at Michigan in 2021, then followed him to the Ravens when Baltimore signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Ross hasn’t played any defensive snaps in his career yet, but by using one of their 53-man roster spots on him as a waiver claim the Seahawks likely intend to use him on special teams immediately.
Earlier on Wednesday, in between trading for Jones (who Macdonald confirmed will start immediately) and claiming Ross, the Seahawks designated tackles Abe Lucas and George Fant to return from IR, meaning that they have 21 days to either activate them to the 53-man roster (which could in turn mean cutting Ross with the intention to put him on the practice squad) or keep them inactive for the rest of the season. As I wrote before, this could put Lucas on track for a return at the end of November and in the best case would have him ready to face the 49ers on Thanksgiving week.
Forsythe played all but 13 snaps at right tackle over the first six weeks of the season and despite what some will tell you about pressures* against two of the best players in the NFL, was adequate and stepped up when Seattle had no other options. The Seahawks will have to decide next year if they like Forsythe enough to re-sign him or if the backup job now belongs to Michael Jerrell, Seattle’s right tackle in their win over the Falcons.
*I’m not saying he was great, but nobody brings up that Aidan Hutchinson and Nick Bosa still had 0 sacks against the Seahawks
The Seahawks also added cornerback Damarion Williams to the practice squad, a corresponding move to releasing corner Eric Garror on Tuesday.
Like Ross, Williams (also known as “Pepe”) is a former Raven who spent the previous two seasons under Macdonald, but he was a fourth round pick and therefore a more significant investment. However, a serious ankle injury derailed his progress and he made just one appearance in 2023. The Ravens cut him after training camp and put him on the practice squad, opening the door for Macdonald’s poaching on Wednesday.
The trade deadline is November 5th. The Seahawks clearly do not intend to wait that long once they’ve decided changes are necessary.
I am all for JS & MM not hanging on to "being right" for too long, and making moves when they are needed and available.... at ANY time.
Instead of taking a player too good to ignore, this has the feel of MacD's focus on effective repairs. He KNOWS what these guys bring to an area of specific need. I feel my optimism that this coach will prove himself a genius as a Head Coach is being vindicated. Include Schneider for making these moves and we can see our upper management is visionary. HooRah. Go Hawks. Gonna be a wild ride. Full dive. Talons out.