In less than a week, the Seattle Seahawks will have to trim their roster down to 53 players. It won’t be easy. There are some very good players who will not make it. That was clearly on display on Sunday night when the Seahawks backups had their way with many of Tennessee’s starters in the first half of their preseason contest.
It wasn’t just the second-teamers. Often, it was third-team players who really stepped up. The fact is, many of Seattle’s best performers against the Titans face very steep odds to make that final 53. I suspect that general manager John Schneider is hoping to stash many of the younger prospects on the practice squad. That might not be so easy either.
For instance, the following article will highlight three players who I believe locked up roster spots on Sunday night. I really need to specify that I am talking about roster spots … with the Seahawks.
Who will make the roster and who is on thin ice after preseason Week 2 for the Seattle Seahawks?
I think linebackers Chris Paul Jr. and Chazz Surratt made an NFL roster this week. Just not Seattle’s roster. They are currently third-string players, and they are not leapfrogging Tyrice Knight or Patrick O’Connell. But they looked awfully good against Tennessee’s starters.
Both were very active, constantly around the ball. Both were making sure to make quick tackles. There are teams in the NFL who could use linebackers like that, and I would not be at all surprised if both get offers after cutdown day.
But we’re here to talk about players who will be suiting up – or not – for the Seahawks come opening day.
Lock – WR Montorie Foster, Jr.
Foster almost had a diving highlight-reel touchdown catch. But he couldn’t quite maintain control. He also had one of those embarrassing false starts where he was the only player on the offense to start running early. Neither of those things should matter in his quest for a roster spot.
Montorie Foster locked up a spot because he was dynamic on special teams -- especially on the coverage units. He made the first two tackles on kickoffs and looked very aggressive as the gunner on punt coverage.
He might get a chance to make some plays on offense this year, but with Jake Bobo out, that is not the main thing Seattle needs from him. They need his special teams play, and that’s what he gave them.
Thin ice – Edge rusher Jared Ivey
Jared Ivey is a good player. John Schneider was wise to scoop him up as an undrafted free agent last year. But it will be hard for any edge rusher to crash the rotation of Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall, and Dante Fowler.
Ivey has been stout against the run, but his pass rush has been mostly quiet. On Sunday, both Connor O’Toole and Jamie Sheriff looked very dynamic rushing the passer. Ivey would appear to compete with both, and he may be falling behind.
Lock – CB Noah Igbinoghene
Noah Igbinoghene had a defensive pass interference call go against him on Sunday, so he might seem like an odd choice for a “lock” designation. But the call was ludicrous. (One or two DPI or defensive holding calls against the Titans were equally wrong.)
What Igbinoghene did against Tennessee was show how well he could play on the perimeter. In recent years, the former first-round draft pick had been looking more and more like a slot-only corner. As such, he had a decent shot at making the roster. But as a corner who can play both inside and outside, he is a much stronger candidate.
Mike Macdonald loves versatile players, and with both Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori so dangerous in the slot, Igbinoghene’s perimeter play could be vital.
Thin ice – OT Logan Brown
Brown was called for a false start on the Seahawks' first offensive play of the second half. Later, he was bowled over on a Jalen Milroe sack. Brown was facing a major uphill climb to a roster spot before Sunday, and he didn’t do anything to help his standing against the Titans.
It’s possible that the biggest beneficiary of Seattle’s offensive line woes on Sunday was Amari Kight. The backup offensive tackle has been out with an injury for more than a week now, and his absence has opened a door for Brown and veteran Bobby Hart to sneak onto the squad as the fourth tackle. With Hart and Brown struggling, Kight’s spot, assuming he returns to full health, may be secure.
Lock – Edge rusher Connor O’Toole
This is the flip side of the Jared Ivey situation. It isn’t necessarily fair to compare the two young edges’ production in one game. Ivey played a bit more early, when the Titans were using their starters. O’Toole got more snaps late against second- and third-teamers.
But there is no denying how active O’Toole looked. He was a constant presence in the Tennessee backfield, totaling four tackles, two for loss, and one-and-a-half sacks. Seattle is counting on veteran Dante Fowler, Jr. to be a key part of its four-man edge rusher rotation.
But Fowler is 32 now and coming off his lowest sack total since 2020. Seattle needs insurance in case he falters, or one of the others is injured. O’Toole is establishing himself as that insurance.
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