The Seattle Seahawks had a historically poor performance on special teams during their victory over the New York Jets, leading to the dismissal of one player.
Laviska Shenault Jr., a wide receiver and kick returner, was waived by the Seahawks on Monday. While Shenault had shown promise with some impressive returns, including a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, his release was not entirely unexpected. Shenault had lost two fumbles on kick returns this season, one of which occurred during the game against the Jets. In addition to his fumble issues, Shenault had limited contributions to the offensive game plan, with only five catches for 36 yards and one rush attempt for one yard so far this season.
Shenault’s departure is part of a trend for the Seahawks to move on from underperforming veterans. This decision follows previous moves such as waiving Tyrel Dodson and trading away Jerome Baker. The Seahawks are sending a clear message to the team by making this roster change after the poor special teams performance.
With an open spot on the 53-man roster, the Seahawks have yet to make a corresponding move. They may choose to fill the spot with a new player or potentially bring back Uchenna Nwosu or Stone Forsythe from injured reserve. In the meantime, Seattle may hold a competition for the returner position alongside Dee Williams, who has also faced criticism for his fumbles and turnovers. Potential candidates for the role include Kenny McIntosh, Dareke Young, or Tre Brown.
