Seahawks waive leading tackler Tyrel Dodson in ILB restructuring

RENTON, Wash. – In another shakeup of their inside linebacker corps, the Seattle Seahawks waived starter Tyrel Dodson on Monday.

The move comes as the Seahawks return from their bye after suffering five losses in their last six games that dropped them to 4-5 and last place in the NFC West. First-year head coach Mike Macdonald said last week that everything was “on the table” as the team explored the bye itself.

This included another change at inside linebacker, where the Seahawks had previously swapped Jerome Baker for Ernest Jones IV. Baker had been playing weakside linebacker, but Dodson moved there in the last two games to allow Jones to slide into center after Seattle acquired him from the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 23 for Baker and a fourth-round pick had.

Dodson, 26, started all nine games for Seattle after signing a one-year, $4.26 million contract in March after spending his first five seasons with the Buffalo Bills. A $1 million signing bonus was the only guaranteed money in his contract with Seattle, which also included a base salary of $2.25 million, roster bonuses of $760,000 per game and a practice bonus of $250,000.

In nine games with the Seahawks, Dodson recorded a team-high 71 tackles, along with 2.0 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and two passes defended. He is now subject to waivers, as are all other players released after last week’s trade deadline.

Dodson’s move clears the way for the Seahawks to play rookie fourth-round pick Tyrice Knight and/or second-rounder Drake Thomas at weakside linebacker.

The Seahawks have signed cornerback Josh Jobe from their practice squad to replace Dodson on the roster.