The Seahawks made roster moves Tuesday to reduce their roster to 53 players, and while things can and will change over the next couple of weeks leading up to the September 12 season opener against Denver, let's take a by-the-numbers look at the current 53-man roster:
26
Defensive players on the roster.
24
Offensive players on the roster.
3
Specialists on the roster: punter Michael Dickson, kicker Jason Myers and long snapper Tyler Ott
1
Player who could very well contribute on offense and defense: linebacker/fullback Nick Bellore.
9
Offensive linemen kept on the roster, which would seem to indicate the Seahawks aren't concerned about Damien Lewis (ankle) being out for a long time. Were that injury a longer-term concern, the Seahawks likely would have kept a 10th lineman to provide more depth.
4
Offensive tackles on the roster, all of whom are in their first or second season: rookies Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas and second-year players Jake Curhan and Stone Forsythe.
1
Punt return job that will go to a new player in 2022 after last year's returner, Freddie Swain was waived. Coincidentally, the leading candidate for that job, Dee Eskridge, also wears No. 1.
16
Players who can be added to the practice squad on Wednesday—17 if Aaron Donkor, who is part of the league's International Player Pathway Program, signs—meaning a lot of the players released on Tuesday won't be away from the team for long.
7
2022 draft picks making the initial team, all but two players selected last spring: outside linebacker Tyreke Smith, who was placed on IR, and receiver Bo Melton, who would seem likely to stick around on the practice squad should he clear waivers.
2
Undrafted rookies to make the team: outside linebacker Joshua Onujiogu and safety Joey Blount.
2
Rookies from non-Division I teams to make the team, Onujiogu, who went to Division III Framingham State, and receiver Dareke Young, who went to Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.
7
Defensive linemen on the team, a number that is small compared to past Seahawks teams, however, makes sense this year given the shift to a 3-4 defensive front that uses outside linebackers as edge rushers instead of defensive ends.
