Free agent Austin Davis, the back-up last season to QB Russell Wilson, returned to the Seahawks Monday on a one-year contract, the club said. NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reported that the deal doesn’t necessarily mean the door is closed on talks with free agent Colin Kaepernick.
Davis, 28, saw only a few plays the past season. His most recent NFL start was in 2015 with Cleveland, but he started eight times in 2014 for the then-St. Louis Rams, including a win over Seattle. He completed 63 percent of his passes and had 12 TDs with nine interceptions. His offensive coordinator with the Rams was Brian Schottenheimer, now the Seahawks’ new OC.
Last week the Seahawks added Stephen Morris, who has spent four seasons on the NFL fringes without throwing a pass in a game. That was after the Seahawks were ready to work out Kaepernick, who was hired by no team in 2017 after his pre-game kneels during the anthem sparked a national controversy.
At the last minute, the Seahawks put off the workout after they asked about his non-football plans for the season, including protests. Kaepernick, 30, said he didn’t know.
Kaepernick also filed a lawsuit against the NFL charging collusion among teams to keep him unsigned because of his protest actions. Among the witnesses called to testify will be Seahawks owner Paul Allen, coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Seahawks a year ago talked with Kaepernick about the backup job, but passed on signing. Carroll said then, “He’s a starter, and we already have one.”
If the Seahawks renew talks and eventually sign Kaepernick, the deals for Davis and Morris, considered camp arms, are not guaranteed.
As the team’s official offseason program began Monday, the Seahawks signed four other players — C Joey Hunt, LS Tyler Ott and DL Branden Jackson signed their exclusive-rights free agent contracts. Also signing was free agent LB Paul Dawson.
Seattle has signed all its ERFAs and restricted free agents.
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