The Seattle Seahawks, who had a strong start under new head coach Mike Macdonald, have fallen to a 4-5 record and opted to make some unexpected changes following their bye week.
On Monday, November 11, the Seahawks released linebacker Tyrel Dodson, surprising many fans. Dodson, a key offseason acquisition from the Buffalo Bills, started all nine games and led the team with 71 tackles. His release marks a significant shift, given his prominent role on the defense.
After the news broke, Dodson expressed gratitude to Seahawks fans on X, posting, “12s! I appreciate you so much, thank you for welcoming my family and I! @seattlechildren So happy we had to connect and change lives! Keep it going! 🙏🏽❤️.”
Despite his contributions, Dodson, who played in 98% of the team’s defensive snaps, never seemed to fully find his groove in Seattle. Initially starting as a middle linebacker, he was later shifted to weakside linebacker but continued to struggle, particularly against the run. His first game at the new position, a Week 8 matchup against Buffalo, saw the Seahawks give up 164 rushing yards.
Dodson had signed a one-year, $4.26 million contract with Seattle, but his release came just before he could reach $550,000 in incentives, which may have factored into the decision, according to Spotrac.com’s Michael Ginnitti.
Coach Macdonald acknowledged that releasing Dodson was a “tough” decision but emphasized that it creates opportunities for younger players while giving Dodson the chance to find a new fit elsewhere.
Should the Bills Bring Tyrel Dodson Back to Buffalo?
Bills fans, known as Bills Mafia, quickly flooded Tyrel Dodson’s comments with hopes of a potential reunion with the team. However, before that can happen, Dodson will need to clear waivers, with the Buffalo Bills holding the 30th position in the waiver order, as noted by WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio.
Adding depth at linebacker could be beneficial for Buffalo, especially with Baylon Spector recently landing on injured reserve. The Bills have shown a tendency for reunions, having brought back defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and Quinton Jefferson. Currently, they have an open spot on their 53-man roster, which raises the possibility of bringing Dodson back.
However, Buffalo may want to preserve this roster spot, as they have just opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Matt Milano, who is recovering from a bicep tear. Financial constraints are also a consideration, as the Bills are operating with a tight cap space of just over $1.6 million.
Tyrel Dodson Had the Best Year of His NFL Career With the Bills Before Signing With Seattle
Before joining Seattle, Tyrel Dodson, who originally signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2019, had a career-best season with Buffalo.
In the 2023 NFL season, Dodson stepped up as a full-time starter after linebacker Matt Milano suffered an injury. Over 17 games, including 10 starts, he tallied 74 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble.
Sports Illustrated’s Corbin K. Smith highlighted Dodson’s impressive performance, noting that the 6-foot, 237-pound linebacker was among Pro Football Focus’ top three graded linebackers in 2023, boasting an elite 86.8 coverage grade—surpassing even Ravens All-Pro defender Roquan Smith.
Dodson also demonstrated his effectiveness against the run, achieving a strong 10.6% run stop rate that ranked in the top 10 for linebackers. In addition, he generated 11 pressures and 2.5 sacks on just 41 blitz attempts, translating to a remarkable 26.8% pressure rate when utilized as an extra rusher by the Bills.
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