SEATTLE — Jacob Eason is coming home. Again.
The former star quarterback for the Lake Stevens High School football team is joining the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks after the Seahawks claimed him off waivers Wednesday.
Eason, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts, was waived by the Colts on Tuesday. Seattle, which is currently without starting quarterback Russell Wilson because of a finger injury, claimed Eason to add to its quarterback depth. Eason immediately goes onto Seattle’s 53-man roster.
This is the second time Eason has returned to what is essentially his hometown team. In February of 2018, when Eason was in college, he transferred from Georgia to Washington. After sitting out a season because of transfer rules, he was the Huskies’ starting quarterback in 2019 before giving up his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL draft.
Eason’s arrival also means another intersection in the careers of Snohomish County’s two active NFL quarterbacks. Marysville Pilchuck High School grad Jake Luton, who was a flag football teammate of Eason’s and opposed Eason in both high school and college, is currently a member of Seattle’s practice squad.
Eason was a huge star during his prep days. He was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year in 2015 following his senior season, and his accomplishments made him The Herald’s 2015 Man of the Year in Sports.
The Colts drafted Eason in 2020 following a season in which Eason went 260-for-405 passing for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions. The hope was that the 6-foot-6, 231-pounder with a big arm could be Indianapolis’ quarterback of the future.
However, things didn’t work out for Eason in Indianapolis. He wasn’t active for a single game during his rookie season as he served as the third-stringer behind Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett. After Rivers retired and Brissett signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins during the offseason, Eason was in line to be the Colts’ backup this season behind trade acquisition Carson Wentz. Eason served as the backup in Indianapolis’ season opener, and in the Colts’ second game he saw his first NFL action after Wentz was injured, going 2-for-5 for 25 yards with an interception in a 27-24 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
After that Eason found himself behind both Wentz and pracice squad member Brett Hundley in the pecking order, as he was left inactive each of the past three weeks. Indianapolis activated rookie quarterback Sam Ehlinger off injured reserve Tuesday, and at the same time the Colts waived Eason.
The addition of Eason gives the Seahawks five quarterbacks in the organization: Wilson is on injured reserve; Geno Smith and Eason are on the 53-man roster; and Luton and Danny Etling are on the practice squad. Luton was elevated from the practice squad to serve as Smith’s backup during Sunday’s 23-20 overtime loss at Pittsburgh.
Seattle did not need to release a player from its 53-man roster to make room for Eason, as the Seahawks had an open spot from waiving cornerback Tre Flowers last week. It’s yet to be determined what effect claiming Eason will have on Luton’s status in the organization.
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