The Seattle Seahawks have released defensive tackle Malik McDowell, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
McDowell was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft, but because of injuries that were shrouded in mystery, he has yet to play a snap of professional football.
McDowell spent the entire 2017 season on the non-football injury list after a serious ATV incident that happened shortly after he was drafted. It has been reported that he suffered a severe concussion, but very few details about the incident have been made public.
He was waived by the Seahawks last summer but went unclaimed and remained on Seattle’s NFI list throughout the 2018 season.
The McDowell saga comes to an end after doing a fair amount of long-term damage to the Seattle franchise. Without McDowell available, the Seahawks gave up a second-round pick and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse in order to acquire Sheldon Richardson, who was a disappointment in his one season in Seattle before he signed back with the Vikings.
Seattle is still looking for more pass rush up front, even after Jarran Reed posted 10 sacks last season.
