The Seattle Seahawks moved quickly to address their wide receiver depth on Wednesday, holding tryouts for two players following Rashid Shaheed’s apparent knee injury sustained during Sunday Night Football. While head coach Mike Macdonald offered cautious optimism Monday, stating that “early returns are positive,” he acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting that “any time the knee’s involved, you’re holding your breath.” With the NFL season underway, the Seahawks are forced to evaluate immediate reinforcements to stabilize their passing game while awaiting a definitive medical update on their star wideout.
Seattle scrambles to fill roster holes as knee concerns linger for star wideout
The primary focus of the tryout is Jacob De Jesus, an undrafted free agent who spent the entire preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs before being waived on August 30. De Jesus possesses a non-traditional athletic profile for an NFL receiver, yet he consistently defied expectations throughout his collegiate career. After starting at Modesto Junior College, he earned First-team All-Mountain West honors twice at UNLV before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, where he secured First-team All-ACC recognition in both seasons. His ability to overcome sub-par combine metrics suggests a high football IQ and route-running precision that could provide a reliable target for Sam Howell or the Seahawks’ quarterbacks.
The second tryout player remains less publicized, but the urgency of these evaluations underscores the fragility of the Seahawks’ receiving corps. With Shaheed’s status uncertain, Seattle must balance short-term roster needs against long-term development. De Jesus’s journey from junior college to the NFL represents a classic “grinder” narrative, offering the team a low-risk, high-effort option. As the Seahawks monitor Shaheed’s recovery, these tryouts serve as a critical contingency plan, ensuring the offense retains sufficient depth to compete in the NFC West without relying solely on injured stars.
Source: Yahoo Sports
