The Seahawks added a familiar name to their defensive line rotation, signing veteran defensive tackle Al Woods.
This will be the third stint in Seattle for Woods in his career, which began in 2010 when he was drafted in the fourth round by New Orleans. After being released by the Saints and spending his rookie season with Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, Woods was claimed off of waivers by Seattle in 2011 and appeared in two games for the Seahawks. Woods then played in Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Indianapolis before returning to Seattle as a free agent in 2019.
Woods played in 14 games for the Seahawks in 2019, starting five early in the season while Jarran Reed was suspended. Woods finished that year with 32 tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss, then signed with Jacksonville as a free agent before eventually deciding to opt out of last season due to COVID-19.
Woods gives the Seahawks a veteran to compete for the starting role vacated by the release of Reed last month, and whether or not he's starting, Woods offers good run-stopping depth on the interior line to rotate with the likes of Poona Ford and Bryan Mone.
A look back at defensive tackle Al Woods' first 10 seasons in the NFL. Woods signed with the Seahawks this week, his third stint in Seattle.
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and rookie Al Woods (94) at the Saints NFL football training camp in Metairie, La., Friday, Aug. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Houston Texans quarterback Dan Orlovsky (7) looks downfield as New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Al Woods (94) pressures in the second half of an NFL game in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010. The Saints won 38-20. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Al Woods (95) warms up during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010 in San Francisco. The Buccaneers won the game, 21-0. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Al Woods,during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Raymond James Stadium on December 26,2010 Final Score Bucs 38 Seahawks 15 (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackles Al Woods, right, Steve McLendon, center, and tackle Joe Long, left, arrive at NFL football training camp at the team's training facility in Latrobe, Pa., Friday, July 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Al Woods (65) at practice during NFL football training camp at the team training facility in Latrobe, Pa. on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013 . (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Al Woods (65) sits on the bench during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013. The Giants won 18-13. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Al Woods (65) runs during a week 14 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Sunday, December 8, 2013. The Dolphins defeated the Steelers 34-28. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson, right, stretches for extra yardage as Pittsburgh Steelers' Al Woods hangs on during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Tennessee Titans nose tackle Al Woods (96) and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Junior Hemingway (88) try to recover a fumble during their NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Al Woods (96) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans nose tackle Al Woods watches from the sideline in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 24-17. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Al Woods (96) runs in pursuit during a week 10 NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, November 15, 2015 in Nashville, Tenn. The Panthers defeated the Titans 27-10. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) scrambles away from Tennessee Titans nose tackle Al Woods (96) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Indianapolis Colts nose tackle Al Woods (99) screams as he celebrates a sack of the quarterback during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Indianapolis. The Cardinals won 16-13 in overtime. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Indianapolis Colts nose tackle Al Woods (99) watches from the sidelines in an NFL game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 in Houston. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Al Woods (99) pressures Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018. Dalton threw an interception on the play. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive guard Chris Reed (64) blocks Indianapolis Colts nose tackle Al Woods (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Al Woods (99), defensive end Kemoko Turay (57) and defensive end Margus Hunt (92) sit on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars won 6-0. (Perry Knotts via AP)
