The Seattle Seahawks made yet another surprise move on Monday, cutting linebacker Austin Calitro according to a report from NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero.
Calitro had an excellent preseason and was projected to be Seattle’s versatile backup linebacker, capable of playing all three spots behind Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks.
The Seahawks do have an exceptionally deep core of linebackers however. Joining Wagner, Wright and Kendricks are two rookies – Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven – as well as Shaquem Griffin.
The team may have felt that Calitro’s presence on the roster was redundant following the fast growth of Barton, who played well at all three spots this preseason, and Burr-Kirven, who had an excellent preseason finale.
Calitro appeared in all 16 games for the Seahawks last year, starting five, and recorded 45 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, one pass defended and 0.5 sacks.
He is eligible for a spot on the practice squad, but seems likely to be claimed following his strong 2018 season and even better preseason -where he lead the Seahawks in tackles and posted a 89.0 grade from Pro Football Focus.
The move gives the Seahawks an extra roster spot, so expect a corresponding roster move shortly.
