Seattle Seahawks Face LB Injury Concern As It Stand

Mike Macdonald, the Seattle Seahawks’ first-year head coach, has a fascinating roster of players to utilize both up front and in the secondary of his flexible defense.

Both are among the team’s deepest position groups.

For the time being, the situation at inside linebacker is very different.

As the Seahawks began their three-day minicamp Tuesday afternoon at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, projected starting inside linebackers Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson remained injured. It was a similar story during OTAs in recent weeks, when Baker was not on the field and Dodson only worked in limited sessions exposed to the media.

“It’s tough because some of the guys aren’t out there, so it’s something we’re chasing right now,” Macdonald said after an OTA practice last month when asked about the linebacking corps’ progress.

Baker, who has started 82 games for the Miami Dolphins in the last six seasons, is recovering from offseason wrist surgery and suffering from an unexplained “lower-body” injury, according to Macdonald. Following an OTA session last month, Macdonald stated that they expect Baker to return by training camp, which begins late July.

Dodson, who started 10 games for the Buffalo Bills last season, is out with an unexplained ailment. Macdonald said Tuesday that they are also optimistic he would be able to return for training camp.

The regular-season opener is still three months away, but injuries prevent Baker and Dodson from participating in the on-field implementation of Macdonald’s cutting-edge defense. Given the importance of communication in Macdonald’s strategy, and the major role Baker and Dodson are anticipated to play, the scenario is far from ideal.

“I wouldn’t call it a concern, but any time someone isn’t getting all the reps, you’ve gotta figure out different ways to get him the reps,” Macdonald said during OTAs last month. “So it’s mental stuff, walkthroughs.” We’re trying to be innovative with the building to ensure that they see all they need to see.

The replacements

With Baker and Dodson absent, Jon Rhattigan and Patrick O’Connell have taken first-team reps at inside linebacker. Rhattigan, a fourth-year former undrafted free agent from Army who has largely played on special teams, saw only 19 defensive snaps last season. O’Connell, a second-year former undrafted free agent from Montana, spent almost all of last season on the practice squad.

Rhattigan had one of the plays of the day during minicamp on Tuesday, making a diving interception of Geno Smith’s pass over the middle.

“I think Jon’s improved every day, so that’s probably the highest compliment I can give him,” MacDonald said on Tuesday. “That’s what we want from the rest of our team: guys going out, accepting instruction, bringing it to the field, taking the next step, and then continuing to roll. Jon is going to be an important component of our squad, and we’ll see how things pan out with the linebacker position. But he’s doing an excellent job for us on and off the field. He’ll also contribute significantly to our special teams. It was definitely fun to watch him make some plays today.”

Tyrice Knight, a fourth-round pick from UTEP, has mostly worked with the second-string defense. Knight led the FBS in solo tackles last season, but some experts see him as a future project.

“He’s coming along,” Macdonald said during OTAs. “The mentality is there. The game is moving quickly for him, but it’s a gradual process. They have a lot to learn, just like the rest of the rookies. But he’s making plays and seeing things right now, so there’s a basis for us to be thrilled about. But he’s a rookie right now, so he needs to pick it up like the rest of them.”