Noah Igbinoghene Among Several Ex-Seahawks to Land With New Teams
While the NFL institutes a hard deadline for teams to get their rosters down to 53 players after the conclusion of the preseason, the churning of rosters across the league continues for several days leading up to Week 1.
For Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, making as many transactions as possible post-cutdown day has been a source of pride for the organization, as he believes it to be an integral part of building the best roster and practice squad possible. As rules have changed, so has the strategy for the reigning Executive of the Year, including leaning in on the ability to place as many as six vested veterans with four or more years of experience on the practice squad, allowing the team to protect more of their talented young players from the waiver wire as a result.
On that front, the Seahawks terminated the contracts of eight veterans as part of Sunday’s roster bludgeoning, including cornerback Trevon Diggs, safety D’Anthony Bell, and running back Velus Jones Jr., hoping to retain as many of those players who weren’t exposed to waivers as possible either on the practice squad or re-signing to the active roster.
“Having the six veterans on the practice squad has enabled us to not expose certain players to the waiver wire. And yeah, it's a strategy for the initial 53 cut,” Schneider explained after Sunday’s initial cuts. “And then as well as what we're going to look like in the middle of October and then trying to be as strong as we possibly can and as deep as we possibly can with a combination of older and younger players down the stretch, end of November, December, January, hopefully February.”
Seahawks Sign Trevon Diggs, 16 Others to Practice Squad
Nearly 24 hours after tabbing their initial 53-man roster for the upcoming start of the regular season, the Seattle Seahawks brought back several familiar faces as part of a 17-player practice squad on Monday, including veteran cornerback Trevon Diggs and four of their 2026 draft picks.
Diggs, a former First-Team All-Pro who signed with Seattle in mid-August, made his team debut in the preseason finale at Kansas City on August 28 and recorded an interception on the second drive of the game. But with only a handful of practices under his belt, the Seahawks terminated his contract as a vested veteran as part of cutdown day moves, with general manager John Schneider indicating that the organization had a plan in place to continue getting the former Alabama star fully up to speed and expected him to return in quick order as a member of the practice squad.
“He came in a little bit late and he's kind of just getting going,” Schneider said of Diggs on Sunday at the VMAC. “He's just kind of just getting ramped up, as you saw the other night, just getting his legs under him. But he feels he's confident and we're excited to get him going and see how far he can take this thing. He's really bought into like the culture and the guys and the staff and Karl [Scott] and Neiko [Thorpe] and those guys. So it's been pretty cool to see.”
Cutdown Takeaways: Montorie Foster Jr. Among Seahawks to Earn Spot on Initial 53-Man Roster
Fielding questions at the podium mere minutes after the Seattle Seahawks announced their final roster cuts on Sunday, general manager John Schneider caught himself mid-answer and hesitated for a split second.
In the midst of discussing second-year receiver Montorie Foster Jr.’s surprising ascendance to earn a place on the final 53-man roster, Schneider decided to choose his words more carefully, not wanting to live in absolutes thinking back to the many players who have come and gone through Seattle’s facility since his arrival in 2010. But after a moment to gather his thoughts, he wielded the type of praise worthy of the former Michigan State standout’s unexpected rise this summer during training camp and the preseason, comparing his performance to the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
“I've never seen a player - I don't know how I say that. It's hard to remember a player at the receiver position that's improved as quickly as he has,” Schneider gushed. “I told Jax [Smith-Njigba], I felt like he like just took his film and just completely studied it or just followed him around for all spring or something.”
This time a year ago, Foster found himself back in Ohio without a team after the Seahawks released him with an injury designation early in his first training camp, preparing to begin substitute teaching at a nearby high school and not anywhere close to being in the same breath as Smith-Njigba or any other receiver for that matter. While he continued to train in preparation for his next opportunity, he also applied for a real estate license, doing his due diligence readying for life after football even as he remained confident he would get another shot between the lines.
Sure enough, the Seahawks came calling in late December, offering Foster a spot on the practice squad. He quickly hopped on a flight to Seattle, spending the last two weeks of the regular season and the entirety of the team’s historic playoff run on what coach Mike Macdonald calls the “ready” squad, earning a Super Bowl ring and a future/reserve deal days later.
Rapid Reaction: Jalen Milroe Impresses Despite Seahawks Settling for 9-9 Preseason Tie vs. Chiefs
Ushering in the regular season with a draw, Jalen Milroe threw his first touchdown pass of the preseason as the Seattle Seahawks tied the Kansas City Chiefs by the score of 9-9 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Enjoying the best performance of his young career, Milroe completed 16 out of 26 passes for 223 yards and connected with Nick Vannett on a four-yard touchdown while adding 20 rushing yards. Cornerback Trevon Diggs kicked off his time as a Seahawk with a bang, intercepting a pass on the second series of the game, while defensive linemen Jared Ivey and Bubba Thomas each finished with two tackles for loss apiece to lead the defense.
Finishing the preseason with a tie after two losses to Dallas and Tennessee earlier in exhibition season, here are five quick takeaways from Seattle’s final dress rehearsal in Kansas City:
1. More decisive and in rhythm, Milroe takes the positive step forward Seattle hoped to see with a full game of action.
Desiring a more extended opportunity to evaluate the young signal caller and let him establish a rhythm, the Seahawks opted to start Milroe with the plan to play for him the entirety of the preseason finale after an uneven first two games rotating in behind Drew Lock. Making strides less than a week after getting intercepted twice against the Titans, he came out firing with confidence on Friday night, launching a 40-yard completion on a post route to Cody White and connecting with tight end Elijah Arroyo for a 24-yard completion over the middle on the team’s opening series to set up a Jason Myers field goal.
Jalen Milroe Under Microscope as Seahawks Play Final Dress Rehearsal in Kansas City
As he did in the preseason finale during his rookie season, Jalen Milroe will play all four quarters under center for the Seattle Seahawks when they travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Friday's exhibition finale.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith analyzes what he has seen thus far from Milroe through two preseason games, breaks down what he hopes to see him improve upon with a full game of action in Kansas City, including more decisiveness from the pocket and willingness to let it rip as a passer, and examines three position battles with the most on the line from a 53-man roster standpoint heading into the last audition.
Jalen Milroe Set to Play Seahawks Entire Preseason Finale, Trevon Diggs to ‘Get a Look’ vs. Chiefs
Preparing to hit the road for their final dress rehearsal for the 2026 season in Kansas City, the Seattle Seahawks will hand the keys to the offense to Jalen Milroe for all four quarters, while a veteran newcomer should get his first opportunity to show what he can do in the secondary.
Speaking with reporters following Thursday’s walkthrough practice, Macdonald confirmed that while backup Drew Lock “will be ready” to go if needed, the Seahawks plan for Milroe to play the entire game against the Chiefs on Friday. Now with a handful of practices under his belt since signing with the team on August 19, cornerback Trevon Diggs also is expected to suit up and see some snaps as he aims to land a spot on the 53-man roster.
In his second season after being drafted in the third round by Seattle out Alabama, Milroe has endured a mostly rocky preseason to this point. Checking in for Lock to start the second half in Nashville last Sunday, he completed six out of 11 passes for 54 yards and threw two costly interceptions, telegraphing a throw that was picked by linebacker Anthony Hill in the third quarter and misfiring behind rookie receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. late in the fourth quarter. He also took a pair of sacks, including on a decisive fourth down to close out the game.
There have been a few highlights sprinkled in there for Milroe, however, who has showcased his physical and athletic talents as a runner in both preseason games while connecting on a few longer passes. Macdonald hopes that being able to stay in the game from start to finish without having to come in cold midway through on Friday will allow the young signal caller to get into a better rhythm and play with improved decisiveness and consistency as a result.
‘I Want to Win’: Seeking Career Revival, Trevon Diggs Ready to Help Seahawks Title Defense
Coming off a lost season due to injuries, Trevon Diggs had several potential landing spots on his radar this summer as he aimed to land with a new team, but he didn’t rush into a decision to ensure he found the best fit.
Previously an All-Pro with the Cowboys before a torn ACL suffered early in the 2023 season started a bad string of misfortune on the injury front, Diggs waited out the market after the Packers released him in January, awaiting the right situation to continue his career. After meeting with the Lions earlier in the offseason and drawing interest elsewhere, an impromptu visit with the Seahawks on Tuesday proved to be the perfect fit, and just 24 hours later, he had signed a contract.
Stepping up to the podium to speak with local media for the first time on Wednesday, Diggs made it clear that three things mattered most to him seeking a new team: familiarity at a place that “felt like home,” a real chance to play, and a winning culture. The Seahawks checked off all of those boxes, making it an easy decision to stay in town and sign the dotted line finding the best chance to get his career back on track.
“I’m looking to show that I’m still the best and I’m looking to show that I want to win,” Diggs said. “Be there for my teammates, be a great teammate, be a great player.”
Report: Seahawks to Sign Former All-Pro CB Trevon Diggs
It appears the Seattle Seahawks are not yet satisfied with their depth at the cornerback position. Even with the news of them intending to sign Terrion Arnold, a former first round pick recently cut by the Lions due to ongoing legal issues, Seattle decided to pull the trigger adding another noteworthy veteran name to their secondary.
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, after working out for the team on Tuesday, the Seahawks have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Cowboys All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs. The team has yet to officially announce the deal, but is expected to do so before making the trip to Nashville for joint practices with the Titans.
Facing eight felony charges for an incident stemming from February in Tampa, Florida, the Arnold situation is still unresolved, with reports indicating that he will be heading to the Commissioner’s Exempt List whenever he signs. Even if he is eventually cleared for the Seahawks, it’s highly likely he won’t suit up anytime soon, as his next court date isn’t until October 5. This makes it far less pressing to sign him, and the team may wait until after the cut down date later this month to do so.
Analysis: Free Agent Targets for Seahawks to Replace Boye Mafe, Key Departures
Paying the dreaded Super Bowl tax one month after defeating the New England Patriots to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, the Seattle Seahawks suffered substantial losses on the first two days of the NFL’s legal tampering period with four former starters departing for greener pastures.
Headlining the group of defectors from the defending champions, running back Ken Walker III quickly latched on with the Chiefs, securing a record-setting three-year contract worth $43 million, the largest deal ever handed to a free agent at the position. Hours later, safety Coby Bryant took his talents to Chicago with a three-year, $40 million contract to join the Bears and pass rusher Boye Mafe took advantage of a fruitful market by signing a three-year, $60 million deal with the Bengals.
After losing Walker, Bryant, and Mafe early in the first unofficial day of NFL free agency and Riq Woolen joining the departed on Tuesday by signing with the Eagles, how can general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald restock the cupboard to help replace three quality contributors from Seattle’s title team?
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
