Seahawks add cornerback in trade for John Reid of Houston

RENTON — One cornerback down and one cornerback out meant bringing another cornerback in for the Seahawks on Tuesday, with Seattle pulling off a trade with Houston for John Reid.

Reid, a second-year player out of Penn State, was acquired for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2023 and could join the team as soon as Wednesday, pending a physical.

Seattle made the trade for Reid after deciding to release veteran Pierre Desir — who appeared unlikely to make the roster and now gets a head start on finding a new team — and learning that rookie fourth-round pick Tre Brown has a sore knee.

Brown has been moving swiftly up the depth chart at left cornerback in recent weeks and played 35 snaps in Saturday’s 30-3 loss to the Broncos.

The trade for Reid will give the team eight cornerbacks, and seven healthy ones as long as Brown is out.

“The fact that Tre Brown is down right now is why John Reid is coming in,’’ coach Pete Carroll said after Tuesday’s practice. “We want to make sure that we have depth and have the kind of competitive speed that we need out there. … We’ve had numbers the whole time, and we’re right at the edge of that and we’ve got to make sure to keep our guys together.’’

A 5-10, 187-pounder, Reid was generally viewed as projecting as a slot cornerback. But the Seahawks view him as able to play on the outside, as well — Reid ran a 4.49 40 at the 2020 Combine, one reason the Seahawks think he could fit on the outside.

Reid played 145 snaps with one start last year as a rookie with the Texans, who drafted him in the fourth round. He was drafted by former Houston coach Bill O’Brien, who also recruited him to Penn State. O’Brien is no longer Houston’s coach or GM, replaced in both roles last season.

Carroll said the team was sold further on Reid after hearing from special teams assistant Tracy Smith, who coached in Houston last year. Reid also played 96 special teams snaps last year with the Texans.

“Steady, has played nickel, shows versatility, plays inside and outside, shows real good speed,’’ Carroll said of Reid. “He’s been an active player. We’re continuing to seek depth and he had played for Tracy in Houston and so he had some background on him and we knew what we were getting so it helps us out.”

Houston was rumored to be getting ready to waive Reid, and the Seahawks thought he would get claimed before they had a chance to get him — teams claim players on waivers based on the order of the draft during the preseason. So Seattle worked out a trade for the conditional pick to get him.

While the trade for Reid is not yet official, the Seahawks waived defensive end Alex Tchangam in anticipation to create a spot on the 80-player roster, with Desir’s release having created room for the return of tight end Luke Willson. Tchangam, who played at Colorado, signed with the Seahawks last week and played 21 snaps in the 30-3 loss to Denver, making one tackle with one pressure, according to Pro Football Focus.

Atkins visit ends with no signing for now

The Seahawks had veteran defensive tackle Geno Atkins in for a visit Monday. But he left without signing.

Atkins played for the Bengals from 2010-20 and has been named to eight Pro Bowls, but a shoulder injury last year limited him to eight games and just one tackle.

“He went back home,’’ Carroll said after Tuesday’s practice. “But he had a really good workout. This guy has been around a great deal. He had some medical things we had to look at, so it took some time to get it done. But he did workout for us and looked very good. He had a shoulder surgery last year. It was something he played with during the season and was able to get it repaired. He looked pretty good.”

Seattle could also be waiting to sign Atkins until after contracts for veterans are not fully guaranteed.

Vested vets who are on the roster week one have their contracts guaranteed for the entire season.

Neal day-to-day with oblique issue

Defensive back Ryan Neal left Saturday’s game in the first half with an oblique injury that also kept him out of Tuesday’s practice. Carroll said it’s unclear when he will return but said there’s a chance he could play Saturday.

“He’s got an oblique thing like we said, and a strain,’’ Carroll said. “Two little things going on in there. He’s a real tough guy about it. That’s something you have to wait and see. There’s not a real good predictable history on how to count on these things. We just go day-to-day with him.”

Homer, Pocic return, and other personnel notes

Here are some other personnel notes:

— Center Ethan Pocic returned after missing most of the past three weeks with a hamstring injury. Kyle Fuller has emerged as the starter at center with Pocic out, but Carroll said Pocic, who was the starter last year, still has a chance to win the job. Said Carroll: “Just the fact that he was out here is great. We’ve been waiting to get him back out; he had a very low pitch count today. We’re just trying to get him to the next day, we’re going day by day. The fourth day we came back, he re-aggravated his hamstring. So, we’re going to be very careful as we bring him back and well see how strong he is. We would love for him to play this weekend, but I don’t know if he’ll be able to or not.”

— Running back Travis Homer (calf) passed his physical and was taken off the PUP list and practiced on a limited basis Tuesday. Said Carroll: “We’re just going to wait and see how he does, see how he handles it and just do one day at a time until he starts building some days up. We’ll take a while to figure that out.”

— Carroll said the team does not necessarily need to add a linebacker following the loss for the season of Ben Burr-Kirven with Nick Bellore — the team’s starting fullback the past two years — also able to play linebacker. Bellore has 12 starts at LB in his NFL career before moving to fullback in 2017. He had five tackles in 28 linebacker snaps Saturday. “Nick really helped us,’’ Carroll said. “It was a real shot in the arm for us when Ben went out, so that will help us right now.”

— D.J. Reed, who had been the starter at right cornerback, returned from a groin injury that has held him out most of the past three weeks. But Carroll reiterated that Tre Flowers has had a strong camp stepping into the starter’s role with Reed out and could keep that spot.

— Marquise Blair (knee) also returned and along with his usual nickel spot also played some safety with Quandre Diggs getting a day off.

— Duane Brown remains “holding in’’ and was not visible during practice Tuesday. But the rest of the team’s 17 offensive linemen were all in pads and able to practice to some extent. That included Cedric Ogbuehi, who had been competing for the starting right tackle job with Brandon Shell before suffering a biceps injury, and can also play left tackle.

— Also back Tuesday was receiver Penny Hart, out since the mock game Aug. 8 with an ankle injury.

— Also returning was rookie linebacker Jon Rhattigan.