The dust is now settled, and the Seattle Seahawks have a full 10-player practice squad, in addition to their 53-man roster, with just six days to go until their season kicks off at home against the Bengals.
The team brought back six players who were with them during the preseason: defensive back Simeon Thomas, tight end Jacob Hollister, receivers Jazz Ferguson and Terry Wright, and offensive linemen Elijah Nkansah and Jordan Roos.
They also brought on four new players: guard Kahlil McKenzie, guard/center Kyle Fuller, safety Ryan Neal and defensive end Jachai Polite.
Polite is the most newsworthy acquisition, as the former Jets defensive end was a third-round pick this year – and at one point had been mocked to the Seahawks in the first round.
McKenzie was a sixth-round pick by the Chiefs in 2018. A defensive tackle at Tennessee, the Chiefs transitioned him into a guard last year.
He sat out his entire first NFL season, but multiple reports indicate he made great strides while learning a new position, which is likely why Seattle snatched him up.
Fuller, who has no relation to the Bears defensive back of the same name, was originally drafted by the Texans in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Baylor.
He appeared in nine games his rookie season, making two starts. He spent the first part of 2018 on Houston’s practice squad before Washington claimed him and got him action in two games.
Miami rostered him all summer, but he was released on roster cut day and picked up by Seattle, giving them another versatile offensive lineman who can play center and guard.
Neal went undrafted in 2018 out of Southern Mississippi. He caught on with the Eagles, but was waived and eventually signed to Atlanta’s practice squad. He saw action in one NFL game last season, on the special teams.
However, he was one of Atlanta’s strongest preseason performers this year, and he gives Seattle another versatile defensive back to have on hand.
The practice squad currently does not have a quarterback, likely because the team is waiting to see if Paxton Lynch is willing to return in that role.
Whenever Seattle signs a quarterback, whether it’s Lynch or not, one of the players from this group will need to either be let go or activated onto the 53-man roster, which could happen if the team places anyone on the injured reserve.
