Phillip Dorsett’s foot, Josh Gordon’s reinstatement relate to Seahawks inactives surprises
Phillip Dorsett’s sore foot remains an issue for the Seahawks.
So does the NFL’s decision on whether to reinstate Josh Gordon.
Seattle was down one veteran wide receiver they signed this offseason to provide new speed to Russell Wilson’s passing offense. The team made Dorsett, signed this spring from New England, inactive for Sunday’s season opener at Atlanta.
Coach Pete Carroll has said Dorsett has a sore foot and that the veteran has had the issue for a long time. Friday, Carroll said the team did not know that when it signed Dorsett to a one-year contract worth just over $1 million in the spring.
Last month, Carroll said Dorsett is the fastest player he’s had in his 11 seasons leading the Seahawks.
“He runs in the time realms we don’t even think really exist. You know, 4.2s and stuff,” Carroll said.
Carroll said he and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have been so impressed by Dorsett’s initial splash with the Seahawks, they were going to find more ways to incorporate him into the offense.
“In our system with Russ and the way Russ likes to bomb the football, he’s a big factor for us...,” Carroll said last month. “And I’m really anxious to see him fit in.”
He still is.
The Seahawks signed Gordon two weeks ago to be the veteran, third wide receiver Dorsett was not on Sunday. They would not have signed Gordon without the belief commissioner Roger Goodell would reinstate the former All-Pro from his seventh league suspension for drugs.
That still hasn’t happened.
Carroll said again Friday he can’t talk about the matter.
NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy told The News Tribune the day the Seahawks reached their contract agreement with Gordon “we are going to decline comment” about Gordon’s possible reinstatement.
Gordon applied for it in June.
Sunday’s inactive list included two surprises: rookie running back DeeJay Dallas and rookie defensive end Alton Robinson.
Both were standouts in training camp.
Dallas impressed coaches with his ability to catch passes and pick up blitzes as a potential, new third-down back.
Robinson is a rush end on a defense that needs a few more good ones. Seattle finished next to last in the league in sacks last season, then failed to re-sign three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, its top offseason contract priority. He signed with Tennessee instead this month.
The Seahawks’ other inactive players Sunday: reserve offensive tackles Jamarco Jones (illness, not COVID-19) and Cedric Ogbuehi (pectoral), plus backup linebacker D’Andre Walker.
