Seahawks notebook: Seattle eyes former All-Pro OG Evans
Published 4:59 pm Thursday, August 4, 2016
RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly taking a look at some veteran help on the offensive line.
Reports surfaced Thursday afternoon that the Seahawks are bringing in free-agent guard Jahri Evans for a visit in an effort to upgrade the offensive line. The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Evans will visit the Seahawks on Friday.
Evans, 32, is a 10-year veteran and six-time Pro Bowler, all with the New Orleans Saints. The 6-foot-4, 316-pound Evans was a cornerstone of the Saints’ offense for a decade, starting 153 games during his 10 seasons in New Orleans, including the first 114 of his career. However, he missed five games last season because of nagging knee and ankle injuries, and he was released in February as a salary-cap casualty.
Evans has played his entire career at right guard. Seattle currently has rookie first-round draft pick Germain Ifedi installed at right guard. Ifedi received glowing reviews from the coaching staff throughout offseason activities and into training camp.
There’s speculation Seattle’s interest in Evans may actually spell trouble for right tackle J’Marcus Webb. Webb was signed as a free agent in the offseason from the Oakland Raiders, but he missed most of the Seahawks’ offseason activities because of a calf injury. Meanwhile, Ifedi played some right tackle in college at Texas A&M, and when he was originally drafted by Seattle he was listed as a tackle.
Injuries mounting
The Seahawks had a pair of players who had to be carted off the field Thursday because of injuries. Fullback/tight end Brandon Cottom and tight end Ronnie Shields both left practice with what coach Pete Carroll believed were Achilles injuries.
Cottom and Shields added to what was already a growing list of players who sat out because of injuries. Strong safety Kam Chancellor (groin) and receiver Doug Baldwin (lower leg) both missed their second straight practices, while defensive end Frank Clark (calf) missed his third. Carroll described all of those injuries as minor.
Others who sat out Thursday included running backs C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks (both hamstring), linebacker Brock Coyle (oblique), fullback Tre Madden (shoulder), receiver Antwan Goodley and defensive end Montese Overton.
On the plus side, defensive tackle Jordan Hill was back after receiving Tuesday off. Carroll also said tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Thomas Rawls, both of whom are on the physically-unable-to-perform list, have reached the point where they’re now considered day-to-day.
Extra points
With Cottom and Madden out, that meant Archbishop Murphy High School graduate Taniela Tupou was the only fullback available Thursday. Tupou, a rookie free agent out of the University of Washington, spent the first three days of training camp at defensive tackle before switching to fullback on Tuesday because of Madden’s injury. Tupou isn’t 100 percent himself as he’s wearing a cast on his right hand after suffering a broken knuckle earlier in camp. … There was a new name in the mix at right cornerback Thursday as Tharold Simon received snaps with the first-team defense. DeShawn Shead and Jeremy Lane had been alternating days with the first unit. … Seattle made a handful of roster moves Thursday, waiving long snapper Drew Ferris and officially placing defensive end Chris Clemons on the retired list. The Seahawks filled the roster spots by signing running back Cameron Marshall and strong safety Keenan Lambert.
For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
