Rookie linebacker Jon Rhattigan was activated from the practice squad on Saturday, making him eligible to play in the Seahawks' season-opener at Indianapolis.
An undrafted rookie out of Army, Rhattigan missed much of training camp with an injury, but impressed in the preseason finale.
Rhattigan, who went undrafted this year, wasn't a starter until his final year at Army, but that one season was enough to get him noticed by NFL teams, and an impressive showing in camp when he was healthy, as well as his play in the third preseason game, was enough to get him a spot on the practice squad, and now a chance to make his NFL debut.
"His film was really good," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said last week. "Our guys evaluated him and they really liked him, knew that we were taking a shot because of that. He's just got his act together. He's such a sharp kid. He's an Army guy, what can I tell you? He just did a really nice job in everything that we've done. I was really fired up to see him play the other night because he played really well, and he did a good job. He made some plays and was running around and he had a blast. It was a long haul wait, just waiting for this muscle thing to fix and heal up. He was really frustrated. You can't get it all back in one night, but he did a really good job. We're fortunate to have him here on the practice squad and hopefully we can continue to develop him and bring him really in front of the competition some time."
Rhattigan gives the Seahawks more depth at the off-ball linebacker spots, where the Seahawks currently have starters Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks, as well as Cody Barton and fullback-convert Nick Bellore. Rhattigan also figures to be a factor on special teams.
Per the rules on practice squad elevation put in place last year, Rhattigan will revert back to the practice squad on Monday without being subject to waivers.
The Seahawks also released tight end DeShon Williams from the practice squad. Williams, who played at the University of Washington, was signed to the practice squad earlier this week.
