Report: Seahawks to release Antoine Winfield
Aug 31, 2013, 11:31 AM | Updated: 11:33 am
By Brady Henderson
Cornerback Antoine Winfield will reportedly join fullback Michael Robinson on the list of veteran Seahawks who won’t be making the team.
Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported via Twitter Saturday morning that Winfield is expected to be among the players released by the 3 p.m. deadline to reduce rosters to 53. La Canfora left open the possibility that Seattle works out a trade, citing the interest other teams had in Winfield this offseason. The league’s official website, however, lists Winfield as having been cut.
The Seahawks signed Winfield, 36, to a one-year deal in the offseason to compete to be their fifth defensive back in nickel situations, a role filled last season by Marcus Trufant. Winfield had been battling Walter Thurmond for that job, and Thursday’s preseason finale may have been the final piece of evidence Seattle needed to see to go with Thurmond, whose night included a one-handed interception and a 28-yard punt return.
Winfield had missed Seattle’s third preseason game with a sore knee and didn’t play Thursday, either.
Releasing Winfield means Seattle is banking to some degree on Thurmond’s ability to stay healthy, a major question mark for a player who has played in just 22 games during his three NFL seasons. It’s also a reflection of the depth Seattle has at cornerback with younger players like Thurmond, Jeremy Lane and Byron Maxwell playing behind starters Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman.
