Newcomer Jonathan Bullard looking to make quick impression on Seahawks defense
What have the past few days been like for newly signed Seahawks defensive end Jonathan Bullard?
“It’s been fast,” he said during his first Zoom call with local reporters Thursday. “A lot is going on.”
When this week began, Bullard, in his fifth season in the NFL, was still in Arizona, biding his time on the Cardinals’ practice squad, where he has been since rosters were cut down to 53 players back in September.
By Wednesday, the Seahawks had signed him, and he was on his way to Seattle. By Thursday, he was preparing to practice for the first time with his new team.
“It just kind of happened,” Bullard said. “I was on the practice squad, waiting for them to move me up, or somebody else to come get me, and I got a call one day that said it might happen, and it happened.”
The 26-year-old defensive end, along with another recent addition in defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison, were both brought in by the Seahawks this week to bolster the defense.
Bullard, who played in nine games with the Cardinals last season, starting six, is looking to make a quick impression. His first appearance with the Seahawks would be his first since last December with Arizona.
“I hope that I can come in right away and help the defense make some plays,” Bullard said. “I think that’s the best way you can make an impression on your teammates, is come in and be beneficial to the team and help out.
“As far as (the Seahawks), everybody’s been cool and spoke to me as I came in and showed me around when I needed a little help. This is the first day, so I’m sure I’m going to learn more about them as time goes on, and they’re going to learn more about me.”
Bullard didn’t have much insight on what his role will be yet, nor have the Seahawks indicated how they might use him this first week, but he said he was focused on learning how Seattle operates up front.
“I’ve got a lot of learning to do, but I’m up for the challenge,” Bullard said. “I’m going to make the best of it.”
The Seahawks do have some background with Bullard, a former third-round pick by the Bears in 2016 out of Florida from his time in Chicago. Bullard played for the Bears from 2016-18, and his rookie season there, current Seahawks defensive line coach Clint Hurtt was coaching Chicago’s outside linebackers.
“So we have some inside scoop on him,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday. “We’re excited to see how he fits into the rotation.”
Bullard believes the relationship he built with Hurtt in Chicago will help with the quick transition to Seattle.
“We communicated,” Bullard said. “Obviously he was the outside linebackers coach, so we had to do a lot of the learning with them also, so he was in the room sometimes.
“But, I think it’s going to be very beneficial for me to have a coach that knows a little bit about me, knows how I came in and where I am now, and help me get up to speed.”
Bullard appeared in 55 games his first four seasons, starting 11, and has played 1,342 snaps on defense in his career. He’s logged 84 tackles, 13 for losses, 3 1/2 sacks — including one of Russell Wilson last season — and 12 quarterback hits, and said he’s prepared to slot in wherever the Seahawks need him.
“I just want to come here and help in any way I can, however they ask me to,” he said. “Right now it’s just learning the plays so I can get up there.”
As a former division rival, Bullard said his impression of the Seahawks has been “a contender since I’ve been in the league,” and he said he was excited to be in Seattle.
“I’m excited to be with them, and learning, and helpful to the team, and hopefully help strive in positions that they need help in,” he said.
