3 Seahawks practice squad additions who will likely see the field this season

The Seattle Seahawks announced on Wednesday that they had signed 15 players to their practice squad. These players can be elevated on gamedays up to three times before they would have to be signed to the active roster or waived. Due to injuries that are going to occur during a season. the practice squad players are important because they act as a kind of minor league of the active roster.

In other words, there are most likely going to be several players signed to the squad who will play meaningful snaps in real games this year. Some might be elevated enough to be signed to the team and then become healthy scratches of gamedays. While a roster has 53 players, only 48 can dress for games.

Still, some other practice squad players will be elevated because head coach Mike Macdonald and his coaching staff believe they can and will help the team during games. The three players most likely to help are as follows.

Three Seattle Seahawks practice squad players who will likely help the team in real games

Running back George Holani

Holani might have been really close to making the active roster as it was. He has shown to be able to grind out yards while having a bit of wiggle to make would-be tacklers miss. He was a productive player in college, though he simply got hurt too many times. This could be one reason the team decided not to keep him on the active roster and only go with three running backs.

12s have unfortunately learned that running backs tend to get hurt quite a bit and assuming that Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, and Kenny McIntosh will remain healthy all season is illogical. Keeping Holani around was absolutely necessary.

One of Holani's best strengths is that he excels in pass protection. If he does have to play a number of snaps, Seattle can be assured the running back will keep Geno Smith clean.

Wide receiver Easop Winston, Jr.

Winston might have only played in four career games over three years, but he is capable of returning punts fairly well. In 2021 with the New Orleans Saints, Winston returned 10 punts with a good average of 11.9 yards a return. The Seahawks are obviously looking for players with explosiveness - for example, the team kept Dee Williams on the active roster and all he does is return kicks and punts - and Winston can help in that way.

Hopefully, Williams and fellow kick returner Laviska Shenault, Jr., stay healthy but there certainly is no guarantee of that. Assuming on of them gets injured, Winston would be the natural elevation to replace them.

Linebacker Michael Barrett

Barrett was a seventh-round pick by the Carolina Panthers and then traded to the Seahawks during the preseason. He isn't the biggest or fastest player, but he knows how to be productive. At least, he did in college at Michigan. He also is a leader and was captain of the Wolverines team that won the national championship last year.

Barrett has a couple of advantages that should help with elevation. One is that Seattle's inside linebacker group is not overly deep in proven talent. Rookie Tyrice Knight was better than expected in preseason games, but he is still a bit raw to take on a bunch of real reps.

Drake Thomas beat out Jon Rhattigan for the final ILB spot. That was likely because Seattle thought they could get Rhattigan back on the practice squad. Instead, he was claimed by the Carolina Panthers. Thomas only played on four defensive snaps in 2023. Barrett should be elevated if and when starters Jerome Baker or Tyrel Dodson get dinged up.

Most importantly, Barrett played for Mike Macdonald when Macdonald was Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2021. The head coach clearly understands Barrett's strengths and weaknesses and will find a way to use Barrett in the best situations for him to succeed.

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