Signed during the offseason as insurance for a young group of linebackers, Barrett Ruud was traded by the Seattle Seahawks to New Orleans for an undisclosed draft pick, the team announced Monday.
The eighth-year pro was limited during training camp because he’s recovering from groin, knee and shoulder injuries he suffered last season. He finished with a tackle last week against Denver and leaves Seattle without playing a regular-season game.
Ruud, 29, played in nine games in his only season in Tennessee last year, landing on the season-ending injured reserve list with a groin injury.
Before an injury-plagued 2011 season, Ruud served as Tampa Bay’s starting middle linebacker, finishing with at least 114 tackles each season from 2007-10, when he was healthy and productive.
Ruud became expendable after the Seahawks drafted Bobby Wagner in the second round, and the rookie from Utah State performed well as Seattle’s starting middle linebacker in the team’s first two exhibition games.
The Saints are looking to increase depth at middle linebacker after projected starter Curtis Lofton suffered a high ankle sprain. Former Seahawks stalwart David Hawthorne, projected as New Orleans’ starting weakside linebacker, also had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.
Both Lofton and Hawthorne could miss the Saints’ season opener, which means that Ruud has a chance to start in New Orleans.
The Seahawks still have some depth behind Wagner, including the flexibility of moving second-year pro K.J. Wright from outside linebacker to inside linebacker.
Also, special teams standout Heath Farwell has surprised the coaching staff with his solid play at inside linebacker with Seattle’s second unit in exhibition play.
DAVIS RELEASED
The Seahawks released a hard-working but injury-plagued defensive end, and used the vacant spot on the 90-man roster to give a Seattle native a second chance to make the roster.
The Seahawks waived oft-injured Dexter Davis. A seventh round pick by Seattle in 2010 out of Arizona State, Davis showed flashes of being a talented pass rusher and special teams player, but could not overcome nagging injuries that kept him off the field.
Davis played in Seattle’s two exhibition games, collecting one assisted tackle against Tennessee. However, coach Pete Carroll said Davis had been bothered by a hip injury that limited his practice time.
Davis, 25, spent all but one game on injured reserve last season with a different hip injury. But in his rookie season in 2010, the 6-foot-1, 244-pounder played in 15 games, totaling eight tackles and a sack, along with six tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams.
Seattle used the vacant roster spot to re-sign cornerback Donny Lisowski, whom the team released on Aug. 7 to make room for receiver Terrell Owens.
The O’Dea High of Seattle and University of Montana product earned a spot on the 90-man roster after impressing Carroll during the team’s rookie minicamp in May.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/
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