The Seahawks made a handful of roster moves Saturday, notably placing center Connor Williams on the reserve/retired list.
Williams informed the team of his desire to retire this week and coach Mike Macdonald announced his decision on Friday. Olu Oluwatimi will start in place of Williams, 27, who had started and played every offensive snap of Seattle’s first nine games.
Going on the reserve/retired list means that Seattle retains the playing rights to Williams for the rest of his contract. He signed a one-year deal worth up to $4 million with Seattle in August. That included a signing bonus of $1.75 million, a guaranteed base salary of $1.23 million and $60,000 in a per-game roster bonus for each game he was on the active roster, or up to $1.020 million for the season.
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Seattle also waived nose tackle Brandon Pili, who had been claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins earlier in the week.
To fill those two spots on the 53-man roster, Seattle signed tight end Tyler Mabry and receiver Cody White off the practice squad.
Mabry adds depth to a tight end spot that has two players, Noah Fant (groin) and Brady Russell (foot), already ruled out due to injury for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
After he was elevated off the practice squad for Seattle’s 26-20 overtime loss to the Rams on Nov. 3, White blocked a punt and also caught two passes for 44 yards, playing substantially with DK Metcalf out.
Metcalf is now back, but White figures to continue to play on special teams and likely see time at the back end of the receiving rotation, where Seattle has struggled at times this season to get production.
Seattle also elevated safety Ty Okada and linebacker Patrick O’Connell off the practice squad.
Okada will serve as safety depth with K’Von Wallace having been placed on injured reserve this week. Seattle has only Jerrick Reed II listed as a backup behind the starting duo of Julian Love and Coby Bryant.
O’Connell adds depth at the inside linebacking spot following the waiving earlier in the week of Tyrel Dodson.
Rookie Tyrice Knight will start at weakside linebacker alongside Ernest Jones IV in the middle.
Seattle has Drake Thomas and Josh Ross as backups at the two inside spots, and for Sunday will also have O’Connell.
Macdonald on Friday said all can play both the middle and weakside spots if needed.
The Seahawks likely hope Pili will clear waivers and can then re-sign to the practice squad next week.
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