The 4-5 Seattle Seahawks cut veteran linebacker Tyrel Dodson on Monday. The 2019 undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills started each of the team’s first nine games this season and was Seattle’s leading tackler.
The 26-year-old inked a one-year, $4.26 million incentive-laded deal with Seattle this offseason featuring only $1 million guaranteed at signing. Dodson and fellow free-agent signing Jerome Baker were meant to replace Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks in the middle of the Seattle defense.
Baker was shipped to the Tennesse Titans in late October alongside a fourth-round pick for current Seahawks starting linebacker Ernest Jones IV. Dodson’s release indicates the franchise is looking for a do-over from its offseason decision.
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Rookie head coach Mike McDonald was asked about the release on Monday. “We really appreciate T-Dod, he works extremely hard,” McDonald said. “Rehabbed throughout the offseason here. We think it was an opportunity for us when we kind of sat and took a step back and realized where we were at.”
It’s probably the best thing for us to move forward that way, give the other guys an opportunity to step up, and hope those guys grab that opportunity by the horns and take it and run with it.”
Dodson was released to waivers, meaning another team could claim him for his outstanding salary. “[The move] gives Tyrel an opportunity to find another spot somewhere else so he can finish the year strong. That was the process,” the Seattle head coach said.
Tyrel Dodson started each of Seattle’s first nine games this season (
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Getty Images)
Pro Football Focus’s Jon Marcri noted on X how Dodson earned the 11th-best coverage grade on their site through the first nine games of the season.
Rookie fourth-round pick Tyrice Knight and special-teamer Drake Thomas figure to get a chance to start next to Jones IV in Seattle’s game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
McDonald also announced that Jones, who’s only been with the team for a matter of weeks, will wear the green dot (meaning he can communicate with the sidelines).
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The Seahawks raced to a 3-0 start before injuries slowed the team’s momentum. The team’s run defense fell apart in recent weeks and Seattle faces an uphill climb back into the NFC playoff picture.
Seattle made a slew of other roster moves following their bye week. The team elevated defensive back Josh Jobe from their practice squad to replace Dodson on the roster.
The Seahawks also placed safety K’Von Wallace on the injured reserve. They signed former first-round wide receiver (turned tight end) N’Keal Harry to their practice squad.
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