My wife didn’t find out what a “royal rumble” was until last week, and I probably haven’t watched one myself in about 25 years, but essentially wrestlers run into a ring one by one … and then throw each other out one by one. Until there is only one left standing.
To whittle down a 90-man roster (which after “the churn” is more like a 105-man roster if we count every player signed during camp) to 53 and a practice squad is not much different than a royal rumble. Players run in, they rumble, someone wins, someone ends up on the wrong side of a broken table.
NFL fans just hope that in this case, it’s not rigged.
The Seattle Seahawks had their dose of football reality recently, placing Jake Bobo and Robbie Ouzts on season-ending injured reserve. Zach Charbonnet continues to rehab towards a midseason return, whereas Jadarian Price is finally practicing again but it’s unclear when he will make his Seahawks debut in a game.
Seattle’s starters played in Friday’s joint practice against the Titans, so it will be mostly backups again during the game on Sunday. Who stands the most to gain? Who needs to do the most to avoid whatever this is:
RB Velus Jones
Jones got 19 snaps last week, second-most at the position behind 27 for George Holani. But it appears as though Holani is more of a lock to make the roster behind Price and Emanuel Wilson, the latter of whom played zero snaps last week. Holani and Wilson were splitting reps with the ones while Price has been out.
If the Seahawks keep a fourth running back, Jones is in competition with Jacardia Wright, who returned to practice the same day as Price. T.J. Harden, a recent signing, has gone back to college. It’s the type of report nobody ever thought they’d have to write because no one would ever think it would be necessary.
The Seahawks signed Anthony Hankerson since that news, which should not factor into the 53-man roster.
It seems to be between nobody, Jones, and Wright.
WR Emmanuel Henderson
One of my favorite non-stories that nobody else probably even thinks about is the fact that the Seahawks added two players with the same name, except the running back is “Emanuel” and the receiver is “Emmanuel”. It actually helps me remember what their names are and how to spell them.
As I wrote on Friday, I believe Cody White should benefit the most from Bobo’s injury. The next man up, if Tory Horton is ruled out for Week 1, should be Henderson or Ricky White III. It could be someone else, Seattle could even attempt to add a receiver, but fans will and should be rooting for one of these two young players to step up.
Of course, Montorie Foster is very much in the mix. Let’s not just watch their production on Sunday, let’s monitor their snap counts and their roles.
G Beau Stephens
A mixed bag debut for Stephens. Nothing from last week would suggest that Stephens is ready for the NFL yet, not because of his highs, but simply because of the things he needs to get better at. It only takes one bad play by an offensive lineman for a team’s entire season to be ruined.
One thing that Stephens has done is make people forget about Christian Haynes. Is that a good thing? I don’t know, I am just saying nobody has talked about the 26 snaps he played last week. Unfortunately, I fear Haynes is still worse than Stephens.
Can someone other than Josh Jones step up and prove to be an adequate depth piece on the offensive line?
TE Nick Kallerup
It’s been such a quiet month for Kallerup. Instead of appearing to solidify his role as a fourth tight end, if not a fullback option, Kallerup has been an afterthought. If he’s been a thought at all.
Elijah Arroyo led the offense with 41 snaps last week, while Kallerup had the second-most at tight end with only 15 snaps. As Nick Vannett fights to make an official return to the Seahawks in the regular season, can Kallerup step up on Sunday and hold him off or will he find himself not making the cut this time?
FB Brock Lampke
No idea how the team feels about Lampke yet, but he only played three snaps last week.
What about Jalen Milroe?
Sure. But I think that goes without saying and we’ve said enough already.
CB Trevon Diggs
Well, not really. I don’t think Diggs will even start practicing at full speed until next week. But the name warrants mention and his presence should push other cornerbacks to play better on Sunday.
CB Michael Dansby
This could go for anybody at the position. Dansby played the second-most snaps at corner last week, as Shemar Jean-Charles played the most but was also placed on IR on Friday. So I assume Dansby will play a lot, in addition to Noah Igbinoghene and Andre Fuller and Nehemiah Pritchett.
There are so many injuries at the position right now. Any of these corners can make a case to be Macdonald’s next “Josh Jobe” discovery.
NT Uso Seumalo
Hard Knocks gave him an entire segment, showcasing both the good and the bad. That means he’s going to be in the spotlight again this week. Seumalo was one of the lowest-ranked players on our top-90 list, which just means he can be one of the best stories of the year.
OLB Jared Ivey and Connor O’Toole and Jalan Gaines
There was not much to write home about regarding this group last week. They have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be understudies to players like DeMarcus Lawrence, a linebacker trying to hand the torch to somebody.
Don’t be too hard on undrafted free agents though. The expectations are low for a reason. Oftentimes it’s not their fault, they just didn’t quite have the right genetic gifts to be the top one-percent of the top one-percent. But these players do fit the mold, so will one of them be dominant against Tennessee’s backup offensive linemen?
DB Bud Clark
He played 45 snaps last week. Does Macdonald want him out there just as much this week? Clark could be a premium defensive piece for Seattle this season. However, if he plays that many snaps tomorrow it does make you wonder if the Seahawks see it that way. If he plays a lot and he’s dominant, he might force Macdonald’s hand either way.
Who are you looking forward to seeing?