Who’s the Seahawks 5th WR?

As the final cut down to 53 man rosters looms, the Seahawks battle for 5th WR looks as wide open as ever.

Coming into training camp the consensus was that the battle for the 5th and (presumably) final WR spot on the Seahawks roster would come down to a pair of undrafted former University of Washington players. Kasen Williams and Kevin Smith had both spent most of last year on the practice squad, both had a cup of coffee with the big team, and both had immense potential.

They ended up having another thing in common this summer; neither could get on the field.

Both Williams and Smith have battled injuries all training camp. For Smith, it was his demise. He was waived yesterday.

Williams is still around, but it might not be for long if he doesn’t make a big impression in practice this week and the final preseason game against Oakland. He’s been dealing with a bad hamstring. His status for this weeks game is unclear.

The first four WR spots on the team are locked up by Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson. The team is unlikely to keep more than 5 wideouts, so it’s crucial for Williams to state his case over the next 48 hours.

Incidentally, an injury to another player may end up helping his chances. Undrafted rookie Tanner McEvoy has been a revelation this preseason, but shortly after catching a 43 yard pass from Russell Wilson against the Cowboys last week, he injured his groin. The severity of his injury hasn’t been discussed yet in detail by any members of the coaching staff.

Another candidate in the mix for 5th WR would seem to be 7th round pick Kenny Lawler, but Lawler hasn’t done anything to stand above the crowd, and he can’t contribute on special teams. That’s likely a deal-killer. His chances of making the team appear slim.

In reality, this may be the one position that has the Seahawks ready to comb the waiver wire the hardest as teams cut down to their final 53 Saturday.

Next: Getting to know C Will Pericak

Which means Seattle’s 5th WR might not even be on the team yet.