If Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson are expected to start as linebackers for the Seattle Seahawks this season, it appears they won’t be practicing together until at least the beginning of training camp.
At Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald informed the media that Dodson is dealing with an undisclosed injury that will keep him sidelined until the end of next month.
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Coach Mike Macdonald says #Seahawks don’t expect inside LB Tyrel Dodson to be on the field until training camp late July/early August. Undisclosed injury.
With Jerome Baker rehabbing wrist surgery, leg issue 1st ILBs are Jon Rhattigan, Patrick O’Connell @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/nTMR5PmssM
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) June 11, 2024
This update comes as Baker is also recovering from a season-ending wrist surgery, which ended his time with the Miami Dolphins.
With both players recuperating, Jon Rhattigan and Patrick O’Connell have taken on first-team duties during the initial minicamp practice of the week, continuing their roles from OTAs. The combined experience of Rhattigan, O’Connell, fourth-round rookie Tyrice Knight, Drake Thomas, and undrafted free agents Easton Gibbs and Devin Richardson amounts to just 23 regular season NFL snaps (19 by Rhattigan and 4 by Thomas).
The Seahawks decided to part ways with Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks in free agency, replacing them with Baker and Dodson on one-year contracts. Knight was the only inside linebacker drafted by Seattle, putting significant reliance on the free agent signings and the defensive coaching staff to alleviate concerns about depth at the position. Although neither Baker nor Dodson is currently at risk of missing games, their inability to participate in offseason reps in a new system is less than ideal.
