If the Seattle Seahawks are to contend in 2024, they must make significant upgrades at tackle and linebacker.
However, they are preparing to begin training camp without projected starters at both spots.
The Seattle Seahawks announced on Thursday that they have placed the following players on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list:
• RT Abraham Lucas – LB Jerome Baker • LB Tyrel Dodson, CB Lance Boykin, S Jerrick Reed II, and LB Drake Thomas • NT Cameron Young
Lucas will start at right tackle for the Seahawks if he is fit, although he only played six games last season due to a knee ailment. He underwent surgery for the injury, but is still recovering.
More concerning is that neither of their new starting linebackers, Baker or Dodson, are healthy enough to practice less than a week before training camp begins on July 24.
Baker underwent wrist surgery in January, missing both OTAs and minicamp. Head coach Mike MacDonald stated in May that Baker would not be ready until training camp, but it appears that he will miss that deadline.
Dodson, meanwhile, is sidelined with an unidentified injury and has also missed the Seahawks’ exercise program.
In recent seasons, the Seahawks’ linebackers have been totally tortured by division opponents the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams’ powerful offences.
Mike MacDonald, the new head coach, has already proved that his strategy can hamper Kyle Shanahan’s offence when serving as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator.
However, his efforts with Seattle will be futile until they have athletic and flexible linebackers at the core of a defence that relies on disguise and clever blitz packages.
Baker and Dodson clearly require time on the field to properly acclimatize to the MacDonald method. The fact that neither of Seattle’s free agent linebackers is ready to take that step should be cause for concern.
The Seahawks also added the following players to the NFI list:
• G Anthony Bradford • LB Easton Gibbs • CB D.J. James • CB Nehemiah Pritchett • WR Dee Williams.
Bradford is the Seahawks’ anticipated starting right guard, but his injury may open up additional opportunities for rookie third-round pick Christian Haynes, while James and Pritchett were both picked by Seattle out of Auburn.
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