Things have not gone well for Seattle Seahawks’ second-year fullback Robbie Ouzts this offseason. First and foremost, the blocking back from Alabama is dealing with an undisclosed injury that has caused him to miss early training camp practices. Last season, Ouzts was unable to play in the Super Bowl due to a neck injury.
This season figured to be a bit of challenge even if he were healthy. That is not based on his play last season. As a rookie, he was on the field for about 200 offensive snaps. That number would have been higher had he not missed a chunk of games early with an ankle sprain.
But the Seahawks have a new offensive coordinator this season, and even though there is an assumption that Brian Fleury will employ a fullback similar to the way Klint Kubiak did last season, there are no guarantees.
New Seattle Seahawks fullback has ties to new running backs coach
To make matters worse for Ouzts, the Seahawks just signed a player who checks all the boxes they might want in a replacement fullback. Brock Lampe could find himself heavily involved in Seattle’s new offense if Ouzts remains out much longer.
Like Ouzts, Lampe entered the league last season. Unlike Ouzts, he was not drafted. Lampe signed as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) with the New England Patriots. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has valued fullbacks in the past the same way Kubiak has.
Lampe was one of the pleasant surprises in the Pats’ training camp in 2025. Several New England reporters penciled him into their early roster projections. A leg injury ended all that. He was placed on IR before the season.
New England signed fullback Reggie Gilliam this offseason. Gilliam spent his first six seasons with the Buffalo Bills and finished 2025 as the highest-rated fullback in the league according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His run blocking grade of 89.5 is truly elite, and his arrival made Lampe expendable.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider wasted little time in signing Lampe after New England released him. At Northern Illinois, the 6’1”, 249-pound back only carried the ball 20 times in his entire career. But he proved to be an excellent lead back on a team that valued running the ball.
He was also a team captain and was chosen to the Academic All-Conference team three straight seasons. He was recognized for his effort and leadership throughout his time in college.
And he was a very good special teams player. Lampe began his college career as a linebacker and proved very effective on kick coverage. He even developed into an effective short yardage runner and adequate pass catcher in the screen game.
But if he makes the Seahawks roster, it will be as a blocker and special teams player.
Lampe has one other thing going for him. His coach during all four years at Northern Illinois was Thomas Hammock, the Seahawks' new running backs coach. It’s impossible to imagine John Schneider would sign Lampe without a strong endorsement from Hammock.
The Seahawks ostensibly carried two fullbacks on the roster last season, and it might seem that veteran Brady Russell would be first in line to take over at fullback should Ouzts miss significant time.
But Russell’s spot on the roster seems reasonably secure based on his special teams prowess. Despite his youth, Lampe has more experience lining up in the backfield as either a traditional lead back or on the wing.
Based on his own progress and Robbie Ouzts’ health, Lampe could be doing that very thing for the Super Bowl champions sooner than expected.
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