Just ahead of veterans reporting to training camp, the Seattle Seahawks put out a physically unable to perform list that might have made some 12s sick. There were key veterans seemingly unable to practice, and some of these players were new to the team. The good part about PUP this time of year, however, is that players can come off the list at any point.
Two of the players on the original PUP were inside linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. Both are new to the team and they are replacing Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks. Wagner and Brooks might not have been great in coverage, but had they been in new head coach Mike Macdonald's system, their overall production against the run and pressuring quarterbacks likely would have increased.
Dodson is expected to be the green dot in Macdonald's scheme. Baker has shown to be fantastic in coverage in his career. However, if neither could practice and learn how to react without thinking under a new defensive philosophy, the overall defense might be set back a bit.
Seahawks get good news early in training camp
The good news is that Baker and Dodson both passed their physicals this week and could return to practice. The question, though, is how quickly they will be on the field when the team starts hitting drills. Passing a physical is great, but that doesn't mean the team is going to want to rush them back into live action.
At least, they can go through walkthroughs with the rest of the presumed starters. Dodson's injury seemed less grave than Baker's. Baker had a knee issue for some of 2023, but after returning, he then dislocated his wrist. The wrist was the reason he could not practice.
The positive aspect is that he can still run and as players are not yet hitting each other, he can go through drills just fine but possibly be held out of a preseason game or three. The work in practice will be more important to his learning the defense.
Dodson had an undisclosed injury, but his issue might have been his shoulder because he injured that late last season. This will be the first year of Dodson's career that he enters a season as a presumed starter. He was fantastic in all aspects in 2023 after taking over a starting spot midway through the season, but there is no way of knowing if he can consistently sustain that level of play.
The Seahawks have four players remaining on PUP - right tackle Abe Lucas, nose tackle Cam Young, linebacker Drake Thomas, and safety Jerrick Reed II. Again, these players might be activated at any point. Lucas might have the most worrisome injury as he appears to still be trying to get over a knee injury.
