New Bobby Wagner look might make some Seahawks fans sick

The first time Bobby Wagner left was difficult. He was released by the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 and he eventually signed with the Los Angeles Rams. While with LA, Wagner once again was named Second-Team All-Pro. The Rams released Wagner last offseason and he came back to Seattle last year.

The deal was for just one season, but let's be honest. Most 12s probably assumed, and logically so, that if Wagner had a good 2023, he would be asked to return. After all, when the linebacker goes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame five seasons after he retires, he will go in as a Seahawk. Players don't wear their team's gear during inductions, but spiritually, the linebacker will always be one of our own.

Instead, Wagner was good and named Second-Team All-Pro but was still not retained by general manager John Schneider. The new coaching staff took a look at Seattle's 2023 linebackers - Wagner and Jordyn Brooks - and must have thought, "These guys stink in coverage! We don't want them."

Bobby Wagner looks all wrong not wearing a Seahawks uniform

Seattle let Wagner and Brooks walk and brought in Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker to replace them. This is where things get weird.

Wagner signed with the Washington Commanders this offseason and this week Washington's official handle tweeted a photo of Wagner in a Commanders' uniform marking that there were only 54 days until the start of the season. 54, obviously, is the linebacker's jersey number.

In reality, Wagner has spoken about how excited he is to be playing under coach Dan Quinn again. He is likely going to elevate Washington's defense and be one of the best linebackers in the league again, good in coverage or not. The Seahawks' defense was bad again in 2023, but the fault should not lie with Wagner.

Meanwhile, Dodson and Baker both started on Seattle's physically unable to perform list and are unlikely to begin practicing when veterans report on July 23. A player on the NFL's PUP list in training camp can come off at any time, but Baker is still trying to rehab from an injury he suffered at the end of 2023.

Both Dodson and Baker were signed to one-year deals so they better get healthy and productive fast or they won't be back in 2025. Seattle could have just gone with Bobby Wagner for a year. Maybe he isn't a great fit in Mike Macdonald's new defensive system, but if Baker or Dodson don't stay healthy, they obviously won't play enough to know if they are better fits or not.

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