Seahawks training camp, Day 2: Brandon Cottom getting shot at FB

RENTON – The Seahawks’ 90-man roster doesn’t have a single player listed as a fullback.

It does have eight tight ends, including one in Brandon Cottom who has the size and versatility to play more than one position. He was a running back in college at Purdue then worked as a fullback on Seattle’s practice squad last year after going undrafted. The Seahawks have an opening there after not bringing back Will Tukuafu or Derrick Coleman, and while they’re listing the 6-foot-2, 262-pound Cottom as a tight end, he’s getting a shot to win the job at fullback.

“He’s really a good athlete and he’s a smart player, so he has the ability to do a lot of different things,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said of Cottom on Sunday after the Seahawks’ second practice of training camp.

“We kind of have a stable there at tight end, so we wanted to give him an opportunity and fullback is kind of a spot that he can do it. He’s got the size, he’s got the quickness, he’s got the things that we’re looking for. So we’re going to give him an opportunity to take that spot and see how he does.”

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The Seahawks used undrafted rookie Taniela Tupou at fullback earlier this offseason but are now listing him as a defensive tackle, which is where he played at the University of Washington. Plenty can change between now and the start of the regular season, but Cottom seems to have as good a shot as anyone to be Seattle’s fullback.

Here are some more personnel notes from Saturday’s practice:

• Tight end Cooper Helfet is out indefinitely due to a cracked bone in his foot, according to Bevell. He didn’t have an estimate as to how long Helfet will be out, only saying the Seahawks are “gonna miss him for a little bit.” Helfet has been a backup the last two seasons and is fighting for a roster spot in a crowded tight-end group. His injury was likely what prompted the Seahawks to sign another tight end, Clayton Echard, an undrafted rookie from Missouri. Echard is listed at 6 feet 4 and 261 pounds. He caught two passes in five games last season.

• Tight end Jimmy Graham (knee) and running back Thomas Rawls (ankle) remained sidelined. Both are on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but they can be taken off whenever the team feels they’re ready to begin practicing. Coach Pete Carroll said they’ll be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Sealver Siliga (calf) also remained sidelined. He’s on the Non-Football Injury list.

• Left tackle Garry Gilliam (knee) took some reps with the first-team offensive line during 11-on-11 drills after being limited to individual drills on Saturday. Bradley Sowell has been working at left tackle in Gilliam’s absence.

• Rookie running back C.J. Prosise didn’t practice. Coach Pete Carroll said after Saturday’s practice that Prosise felt something in his hamstring early in the day. He missed a significant amount of time earlier in the offseason with a hip-flexor issue. The Seahawks have penciled Prosise in as their third-down back, but his availability is starting to become an issue.