Pete Carroll: Seahawks knew NFL suspension of Dee Eskridge was a strong possibility
Dee Eskridge sprinted down the sidelines with a kickoff for what he thought was a touchdown. Officials ruled him out of bounds.
He took off down the same sideline at Lumen Field Friday night after he caught a pass. No defender reached him, but he stepped out of bounds on that play, too.
His long runs Friday in the Seahawks’ annual mock-game scrimmage are going to be some of his last chances on the field for a while.
Earlier Friday, the NFL suspended the wide receiver who’s had trouble staying on the field the last two years for new trouble off it. The league suspended Eskridge for the first six games of this season, without pay, following a domestic-violence incident involving the mother of his child in February.
Coach Pete Carroll said following Friday’s scrimmage the Seahawks have known Eskridge’s suspension was a distinct possibility.
The team knew Eskridge had received a suspended sentence on a fourth-degree misdemeanor assault charge. That suspended sentence was handed down May 25, according to King County court records. His charge will be dismissed in 12 months if Eskridge completes domestic-violence therapy.
“His issue has been dealt with by the league. I can’t talk about it, at all,” Carroll said. “He’s had a very good camp....He’s been very determined. You could see it tonight. I’m sure you all could tell, he’s explosive making plays, as far as the football is concerned.
“But he’s going to miss the time.”
The league suspended Eskridge for violating its personal-conduct policy. An NFL spokesman said Eskridge can practice this month with the Seahawks and play in their three preseason games that begin Thursday against Minnesota in Seattle. Then he will go off the roster on the suspended list from week one of the regular season in early September until Oct. 23.
Eskridge will lose $310,205 of his base salary for the 2023 season of $930,614. He is in the third year of his four-year contract as Seattle’s second-round pick in the 2021 draft.
The team indicated Eskridge’s issue is a law-enforcement matter.
A spokesperson for Eskridge said it is related to an incident of domestic violence.
“In early February 2023, Dwayne was involved in an unfortunate incident with his child’s mother, which resulted in his arrest and the filing of misdemeanor charges,” Jarred Ausserer, partner of the Seattle-area Puget Law Group, wrote in a statement Friday afternoon.
“Dwayne quickly took responsibility for his role in this incident,” the statement said. “Dwayne entered into an agreement whereby the misdemeanor charges will be dismissed in 12 months when he completes domestic violence moral recognition therapy. Dwayne has already enrolled in and has begun therapy. Dwayne has not been convicted of any crime. He entered into this agreement because it is in the best interest of his family. Dwayne deeply regrets any embarrassment this incident has caused his family, the Seahawks, and the NFL.
The statement was provided to The News Tribune by Rebecca Otto, vice president of talent marketing and media for the Wasserman group.
“We are aware of the situation involving Dee Eskridge and have followed league and law enforcement protocol,” a Seahawks spokesperson said in a statement posted on its social-media site.
Eskridge had a lengthy discussion on the field with Seahawks general manager John Schneider immediately following practice at training camp Sunday.
Five days later, the league suspended him.
Eskridge has done little to justify Seattle selecting him with its first pick in the 2021 draft.
In his first NFL regular-season game, Eskridge sustained a serious concussion on a fly-sweep run at Indianapolis in September 2021. He missed six games his rookie season.
He broke a bone in his hand last season. He missed six more games. He has 17 receptions and one touchdown with six carries in 20 career games.
Eskridge was already losing his third-receiver spot to impressive rookie first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba through the first week of this training camp.
The NFL in its personal-conduct policy states it will punish any league member for “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL. This includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and employees of the league office...or any other NFL business.
“Conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL.”
A player can be suspended after a league investigation under the personal-conduct policy even though he has not been charged with a crime.
“He may still be found to have violated the Policy if the credible evidence establishes that he engaged in prohibited conduct,” the NFL’s conduct policy states.
This story was originally published August 4, 2023 at 9:20 PM.
