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Seahawks Add Center Depth, Elevate Pair From Practice Squad

Originally posted on FanNation Seahawk Maven
By Corbin K. Smith | Last updated 10/21/23

With starting center Evan Brown listed as questionable to play against the Arizona Cardinals with a hip injury on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks signed a familiar name back to the active roster as insurance.

Set to dress for his first regular season game since 2020 when he played for the Colts, the Seahawks promoted Joey Hunt from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and waived guard Ben Brown in a corresponding move. The team also elevated running back SaRodorick Thompson Jr. and receiver Easop Winston as game day callups from the practice squad.

Following Friday's practice, in which Brown participated in limited fashion, coach Pete Carroll indicated the veteran would be a game-time decision. If he isn't able to suit up against Arizona, Seattle will turn to rookie Olu Oluwatimi for his first career start and Hunt will serve as his backup at the pivot position.

Hunt, a 2016 sixth-round pick out of TCU, has played in 34 games with 11 starts previously for the Seahawks, including starting eight games in 2019 after then-starter Justin Britt suffered a torn ACL. But the 29-year old has only played 10 offensive snaps since the start of the 2020 season, spending the majority of the past few seasons on the team's practice squad after being waived by the Colts in January 2022.

In limited action this season, Oluwatimi has performed well when called upon, not allowing a single pressure on 20 pass protection reps and helping open up a crease for Ken Walker III to score a touchdown against the Lions. He replaced a banged-up Brown for a couple plays in Detroit and played the entire second half in a win over the New York Giants when Brown was forced to shift to left guard to replace an injured Damien Lewis.

As for Seattle's two practice squad elevations, neither should come as a surprise with running back Zach Charbonnet and receiver DK Metcalf dealing with hamstring and hip injuries respectively.

Charbonnet received a questionable designation on Friday, but he wasn't able to practice at all this week, putting his status in doubt. Already without fellow rookie Kenny McIntosh, who remains on injured reserve, the Seahawks will turn to Thompson, who enjoyed a strong training camp and preseason after being a late signing in early August out of Texas Tech.

In three exhibition games, the 5-11, 207-pound Thompson rushed for 81 yards, including 84 yards after contact behind a third-string offensive line according to Pro Football Focus, while scoring a pair of touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 11 yards, helping earn himself a spot on the practice squad after being waived in final roster cutdowns.

Metcalf has been ailing most of the season, as he has played through a rib injury since Week 2 and left briefly in last weekend's loss to Cincinnati with a new hip injury. According to Carroll, the hip issue has been bothering him all week and like Brown and Charbonnet, he will a game-time decision, creating the need for Winston as extra receiver depth.

Now in his third season with the Seahawks organization, Winston previously played in three regular season games for the Saints in 2021, catching one pass for five yards and returning 10 punts for 119 yards. This preseason, the Washington State alum shined catching six passes for 103 yards and a touchdown despite missing the second game with a hamstring injury.

This article first appeared on FanNation Seahawk Maven and was syndicated with permission.

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