KIRKLAND – The NFL’s final cutdown deadline may have come and gone, but the Seattle Seahawks are not finished making moves.
They claimed safety Marquand Manuel off the waiver wire Monday, adding depth behind Ken Hamlin, Terreal Bierria and Michael Boulware. And more moves could be coming.
“We will do what we have to do to maintain the squad and to get better – if we can, over the waiver wire,” said coach Mike Holmgren, whose team has available money under the salary cap.
Manuel, 25, was with the Cincinnati Bengals for two seasons before getting cut Monday. While he gives the Seahawks another defensive back, he might not necessarily be the long-term answer.
The Seahawks are one of seven teams who are interested in veteran safety Kwamie Lassiter, according to agent James Solano. Lassiter was cut by San Diego on Sunday after starting 10 games with the Chargers last season. The 34-year old was Arizona’s starting safety the previous four years and visited Seattle as a free agent prior to the 2003 season.
Another veteran who could be available is Scott McGarrahan, whom the Tennessee Titans have been trying to trade for weeks.
If the Seahawks are looking for help at outside linebacker, the biggest available name belongs to former Buffalo Bill Jason Gildon. But he’s probably too pricey for a team looking for temporary help at the position, especially when considering that the Seahawks have about one-eighth of their 2004 salary cap already invested in the outside linebacker position.
Manuel, the new safety, is expected to join the team for today’s practice. He started nine games over two seasons in Cincinnati but was released after a decent performance at training camp. A sixth-round pick in the 2002 draft, Manuel seemed to be the victim of an overall roster purge that has claimed all but 15 players since head coach Marvin Lewis arrived in January 2003.
Manuel played through a hamstring injury last year while starting just one game.
Seattle was looking for depth at the position after veteran Damien Robinson was placed on injured reserve Monday. Robinson is scheduled to undergo surgery for a torn labrum soon and will miss the entire season.
The Seahawks now have the league-maximum 53 players on their roster, not including offensive linemen Walter Jones and Wayne Hunter.
Jones does not have to be added to the roster for two weeks, although the team is likely to activate him Saturday so he can play in Sunday’s game. Hunter is suspended for the season opener and does not count against the team’s roster total until next week.
Practice punter? The Seahawks unofficially added six players to their practice squad Monday, the least likely of which might be rookie punter Donnie Jones.
The LSU product and seventh-round draft pick benefited from the NFL’s practice squad expansion from five to eight players.
“With the five-man practice squad, keeping an extra punter or kicker was a … luxury,” Holmgren said. “I think Donnie has great potential, and I think he might be a year away. Because he has great potential, now he has to work on his consistency year-round.”
Jones, who had 24 hours to clear waivers before re-signing with the Seahawks, was relieved to get another opportunity to stay in Seattle.
“I’m just happy to be here,” said Jones, who lost out on a roster spot to veteran Tom Rouen despite a solid preseason performance. “I could just as easily be home right now, but they thought enough of me to keep me around on the practice squad and let me work for a year. It’s a great opportunity, and I’m fortunate to be here.”
The other practice squad players attending Monday’s practice were defensive back Jordan Babineaux, cornerback Michael Harden, fullback R.J. Luke and wide receiver Jason Willis. Wide receiver Taco Wallace and center Joey Hollenbeck have also been added to the practice squad, team officials confirmed Monday afternoon.
The Seahawks and other NFC West teams get an extra practice squad player this year as part of the international development program. Defensive end Christian Mohr, a native of Germany, will practice with the Seahawks all season but probably won’t be added to the active roster.
Quick slants: The Seahawks’ Monday practice got off to a rough start when wide receiver Koren Robinson and tight end Itula Mili dropped passes. Mili’s drop drew a long stare-down from Holmgren, and eventually Seattle’s receivers started to hang on to the ball. … Solomon Bates continues to play outside linebacker with the No. 2 defense after losing a training camp battle with Orlando Huff and rookie Niko Koutouvides for the starting spot at middle linebacker. … The Seahawks open their regular season Sunday at New Orleans. The home opener is Sept. 26 against San Francisco. A limited number of tickets still remain for that game.
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