Seahawks waive leading tackler Tyrel Dodson in ILB shake-up

RENTON, Wash. — In another shake-up to their inside linebacker corps, the Seattle Seahawks waived leading tackler Tyrel Dodson on Monday.

The move came after the Seahawks returned from their bye on the heels of five losses in the past six games that dropped them to 4-5 and into last place in the NFC West. Coach Mike Macdonald said last week that everything would be “on the table” as the team self-scouted over the bye.

That included another change at inside linebacker, where the Seahawks previously swapped out Jerome Baker for Ernest Jones IV. Baker had been playing weakside linebacker, but Dodson moved there for the past two games to allow Jones to slide into the middle after Seattle acquired him from the Tennessee Titans for Baker and a fourth-round pick on Oct. 23.

Dodson, 26, had started all nine games for the Seahawks after signing with Seattle in March.

“We really appreciate T-Dot,” Macdonald said Monday. “He’s worked extremely hard, rehabbed throughout the offseason here. I think it was an opportunity for us when we kind of … took a step back and realized where we were at, it was the best thing for us to move forward that way, give the other guys in the room an opportunity to step up. I hope those guys grab that opportunity by the horns and take it and run with it, and then it gives Tyrel an opportunity to find another spot somewhere else so he can finish the year strong.”

The Seahawks held the visiting Los Angeles Rams to 68 rushing yards and 2.8 yards per carry in an overtime loss on Nov. 3. But over their first eight games, the Hawks were allowing over 148 rushing yards per game (29th in the league) and 4.9 yards per carry (28th). The six rushes of 25-plus yards they yielded during that span were tied for third most.

“I think you look at some of the plays that got out on us and some explosive runs that we felt like we could have played better at that level,” Macdonald said. “Again, I don’t want us to feel like we’re singling guys out. Obviously, it looks that way because of the roster moves we made. We made them for two completely different reasons. But the things that we need to improve on are really the entire defense. It just so happens that we made the move at linebacker.”

Jones will take over as the Seattle’s defensive signal-caller, Macdonald said, while rookie fourth-round pick Tyrice Knight will get the first look at replacing Dodson. Second-year pro Drake Thomas could play in some packages, as well, per Macdonald.

Dodson signed a one-year, $4.26 million deal with Seattle after spending his first five seasons with the Buffalo Bills. In nine games with the Seahawks, he recorded a team-high 71 tackles to go along with two sacks, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a pair of passes defensed.

Dodson is now subject to waivers, as is any other player released after last week’s trade deadline. If he is claimed, the Seahawks will be off the hook for the $1 million that remains of his $2.25 million base salary, which is effectively guaranteed because he’s a vested veteran. Any team that claims Dodson also would take on the $240,000 that remains of the $510,000 he can make in per-game roster bonuses as well as the $1.25 million he can make in incentives.

Macdonald said the Seahawks are still optimistic that wide receiver DK Metcalf will play Sunday at the San Francisco 49ers after missing the past two games with an MCL sprain. The coach also called it a “realistic expectation at this point” that right tackle Abraham Lucas will make his season debut in Sunday’s contest. Lucas, who has been on the physically unable to perform list all season while working back from knee surgery, has to be activated to the 53-man roster by Wednesday.

The Seahawks signed cornerback Josh Jobe from their practice squad to replace Dodson on the roster. They also placed safety K’Von Wallace (ankle) on injured reserve and claimed nose tackle Brandon Pili off waivers from the Miami Dolphins.

Wallace, Seattle’s third safety, was hurt in Week 9 against the Rams. He’ll have to miss at least the next four games. Pili, undrafted out of USC in 2023, recorded four tackles in 12 games over the past two seasons with the Dolphins. He was waived by Miami on Saturday.

The Seahawks also signed veteran tight end N’Keal Harry to their practice squad.