The end of August always brings tough decisions across the NFL as teams cut down their rosters to 53 players. For many, it marks the end of a dream. For others, it’s a chance to start fresh and hope another team comes calling. Among the recent cuts is a name familiar to Seattle Seahawks fans: wide receiver and return specialist Laviska Shenault Jr.
Shenault’s NFL journey has been anything but steady. Drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, he quickly showed flashes of his physical style and ability to create yards after the catch. But his role shrank over time, leading him to bounce from Jacksonville to Carolina, then Seattle, the Los Angeles Chargers, and, most recently, the Buffalo Bills.
Seahawks fans will remember Shenault most for his time on special teams last season. While he didn’t carve out a large role in Seattle’s crowded receiver room, he made his mark as a kick returner.
Former Seattle Seahawks kick returner Laviska Shenault, Jr. released by the Buffalo Bills
Shenault even provided one of the Seahawks’ most exciting special teams moments of the season when he broke free for a long touchdown return, showing the explosiveness that made him a coveted draft pick just a few years ago.
LAVISKA SHENAULT JR. 97 YARDS TO THE HOUSEEE!#TNFonPrime pic.twitter.com/ESDZpcK2P6
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 11, 2024
However, consistency was always an issue. For every flash of big-play potential, some lapses proved costly — missed reads, poor angles, or returns that gave opponents favorable field position. In today’s NFL, where every roster spot is valuable, those inconsistencies can quickly shorten a player’s leash.
Now, after being released by Buffalo, Shenault’s future is uncertain. At this point in his career, his value lies almost entirely in special teams, a role many teams are reluctant to dedicate to a single roster spot. Still, his versatility and experience could keep him on the radar for a team that finds itself thin at wide receiver or looking for a spark in the return game.
For Seahawks fans, Shenault’s story is another reminder of the razor-thin margins in the NFL. Even a player with undeniable athleticism and the ability to impact games on special teams can find himself on the outside looking in. Whether Shenault gets another shot remains to be seen, but his brief stint in Seattle showed that he still has the tools that could help a team willing to take a chance.