From the Bay: Seahawks GM John Schneider on Connor Williams retiring, cutting Tyrel Dodson
The 49ers are without more than the Seahawks.
Now that the hubbub has settled from cutting leading tackler Tyrel Dodson from his porous run defense and starting center Connor Williams retiring this past week, Seattle entered its NFC West test at San Francisco Sunday with tight end Noah Fant the only front-line player inactive. Fant missed his second consecutive game because of his groin injury.
“With Connor, these are personal matters,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider said Sunday morning on the team’s radio pregame show from the field at Levi’s Stadium. “And we respect him. Heck of a guy. You just have to respect people, and the decisions that they make.
“’T-Dod’ was part of our self-scout from the bye week. We just want to keep moving this thing forward and admit where we are and try to address every position we possibly can.”
The 49ers left All-Pro tight end George Kittle and All-Pro cornerback Charvarius Ward inactive. Kittle has an injured hamstring. Ward has been away from the team since last month after the death of his young daughter.
Williams’ abrupt retirement this week forced Olu Oluwatimi into his second NFL start Sunday. Oluwatimi was on track to be the Seahawks’ starting center this offseason into preseason. But he failed to win the job. The team signed Williams in late August to take it.
Now, it’s back to Seattle’s fifth-round draft choice from Michigan in 2023.
“Man, Olu — I think since Connor has gotten here, Olu has really stepped up, and his competition with himself has (gone) up,” Grubb said. “The way he pushes himself at practice and how he prepares and gets ready for a game I think really has changed.
“I just feel like, honestly, that he’s a different guy than he was in OTAs. I feel like it was kind of him growing as a young player and realizing how difficult it is to win a job in the NFL. I feel like instead of him backing down to that challenge, he’s really stepped up to it.”
The Seahawks’ offensive line also got starting right tackle Abe Lucas back Sunday, for his season debut. Lucas was starting for the first time since last New Year’s Eve, the team’s 2023 final home game against Pittsburgh at Lumen Field. Lucas had knee surgery this past winter.
“Just really proud of him, and the whole team of people that worked with him, and spent so much time helping him out as much as possible,” Schneider said. “He’s done a great job being honest with where he is in his rehab.
“Big man. Heavy hands. It’s going to be exciting, exciting for him to get back on the football field.”
Putting Dodson on waivers this past week meant Tyrice Knight was the Seattle’s starting weakside linebacker against the 49ers Sunday.
The Seahawks’ other inactive players Sunday: injured tight end Brady Russell (foot), wide receiver Dareke Young, defensive end Myles Adams, rookie cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett, linebacker Trevis Gipson and rookie offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea.
The team signed wide receiver Cody White from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday. White excelled in training camp, and late in his first regular-season game with the Seahawks two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Rams, before Seattle’s bye.
The Seahawks also signed tight end Tyler Mabry from the practice squad Saturday to back-fill for Fant being out Sunday. Rookie AJ Barner has become the number-one tight end in recent weeks.
This story was originally published November 17, 2024 at 12:38 PM.
