Why Seattle Seahawks 53-man roster could immediately change after being announced

Like every other NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks have to make final roster cuts by August 29th. This means that Seattle's final preseason game of 2023 could be very important in making final decisions. Seattle plays the Packers in Green Bay on Saturday.

But because of NFL reserve/injury rule (more commonly known as IR), a player being placed on the list prior to final roster cuts must miss the entire season. However, once final roster decisions are made, a player can be placed on IR and miss only a minimum of four games. IR could definitely come into play when it comes to the healthy of safety Jamal Adams.

Adams was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list this week. He cannot go back onto the list now or he would have to miss the entire season. But Adams is likely nowhere near ready to play in an NFL game at this point. So far in practice, he has only participated in walk-throughs so he hasn't hit anyone in a uniform since Week 1 of 2022.

Seattle Seahawks could make immediate changes after announcing initial 53-man roster

When the initial 53-man roster is announced for the Seattle Seahawks, Jamal Adams is going to be on it. Unless he somehow ends up being a surprise roster cut, which is extremely unlikely to happen. He's been cleared by doctors to play so Seattle doesn't really have an excuse to waive Adams due to being hurt.

However, as soon as the 53-man roster is set on Tuesday, Adams could be placed on IR and miss the first four games. This is important because the Seahawks might have another safety they like, such as Jerrick Reed or Jonathan Sutherland, who they need to release to make room for Adams, but then as soon as Adams is placed on IR Seattle can add Sutherland and Reed back.

Seattle often makes these kinds of moves. In 2019, the Seahawks even released Geno Smith - partly to help make room for recently acquired Jadeveon Clowney - which left only one quarterback, Russell Wilson, when the initial 53-man roster was announced. Smith was then signed the next day. Imagine what would have happened had another team chosen to sign Smith once he had been released by Seattle for the future of the franchise.

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