Jeron Johnson, a reserve strong safety for the Seahawks the last four years, is visiting Washington and appears unlikely to be back with the Seahawks, which will open up opportunities for others to become the backup to Kam Chancellor.
Jeron Johnson, a backup safety and special teamer for the Seahawks the last four years, is visiting Washington today, according to a report from Fox Sports, and also has interest from other teams.
It’s been expected for a while now that Johnson won’t be back with Seattle as he seeks a place where he can play a larger role. Johnson has been Kam Chancellor’s primary backup at strong safety, which doesn’t leave much room for playing time.
Johnson’s seemingly inevitable departure, though, means the Seahawks will need to find a new backup at strong safety.
The only other player listed at that spot anywhere on the Seattle roster is Dion Bailey, who was on and off the practice squad last season and recently signed to a futures contract (which means he’s now officially on the roster with the new league year starting Tuesday).
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But the player who could most benefit from Johnson’s apparent departure is Eric Pinkins, a sixth-round pick in 2014 out of San Diego Stat. Pinkins is listed simply as a safety, but played strong safety in college, and as of now, would seem to be the No. 2 player at that spot (though it won’t be a surprise to see Seattle add a player or two at safety in the draft, or otherwise).
Pinkins, recall, was drafted with the idea that he would switch to cornerback. But that experiment didn’t last long and he was moved to safety. He then was sidelined with a Lisfranc injury and sat out the season other than a three-week window when he was allowed to practice at mid-season, after which he reverted to Injured Reserve.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll, though, spoke glowingly of the 6-3, 220-pound Pinkins after his three-week practice run.
“I think this will really help him,” Carroll said. “We’ll see the kind of jump that you hope to see from year one to year two as he competes to make his way on this team, so we’re really excited about the future for him.”
Bailey obviously could also be a factor. An undrafted free agent out of USC, Bailey impressed early in training camp before being released after suffering an ankle injury Once healthy, he was brought back.
Seattle’s only other listed safeties are Earl Thomas and Steven Terrell, each free safeties, though DeShawn Shead — listed as a cornerback — has also played safety, and started one game at strong safety last year (against the Raiders) when both Chancellor and Johnson were out.
Shead will be back, having been made a qualifying offer to keep him on the roster, and Terrell is also under contract.