What are realistic expectations for Seahawks CB Tre Brown’s early return?

For the second year in a row, the Seahawks appear to have found something in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft as it pertains to the secondary.

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This year, fourth-round rookie Coby Bryant has continued to grow and has more than held down the nickel corner spot. And all fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen has done is record five interceptions through 10 games and emerge as a potential Pro Bowler in Year 1 of his NFL career.

But in 2021, the Seahawks got early success from a cornerback they selected later in the draft. That would be Tre Brown, a 2021 fourth-rounder who played well for the Hawks in limited action as a rookie, playing five games and starting three while holding down his side of the field.

Unfortunately for Brown and Seattle, his rookie season – which began on injured reserve – ended pretty quickly as he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11. That injury has also kept Brown out of action in 2022, but that should be changing soon.

The Seahawks added Brown back to the 53-man roster this week, meaning he can play for the first time in a year when Seattle returns from its bye week and hosts the Las Vegas Raiders next Sunday, Nov. 27.

So what should we expect from the promising young defensive back when he gets back into action? Former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus broke it down during Thursday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports 710 AM.

“The good thing for him is that he’s activated during a bye week,” Bumpus said of Brown. “So there’s time for him to get in shape, to really push the body, not have to really be at practice that much. Get your mental right, get all caught up.”

What’s also good for Brown and the Seahawks is they don’t necessarily need him to play right away. That’s because Woolen and Bryant have played well as rookies, and Michael Jackson has more than held his own at the other cornerback spot opposite Woolen. That could allow Brown to really be eased back into action.

“Realistic expectations for me (with Brown) will be just to be able to go to special teams and make a couple of plays,” Bumpus said. “I think Mike Jackson has played well enough to kind of fend off the youngster for at least now but I think eventually they’re going to want to see what (Brown) can do.”

Jackson is one of Bumpus’ favorite players this year because he’s an underdog who has a mentality as a “stone cold killer” on the field.

“He’s out there trying to hit dudes,” Bumpus said of Jackson. “But you remember Tre Brown making a couple plays, a fourth-down stop against the Steelers. They’ve got to see what he’s made up. He’s a true corner. His technique is on point.”

Bumpus wants to see how long Jackson can hold Brown off, so for now Bumpus just wants to see Brown get some work in on special teams to get his footing.

“Realistically, I think you’ve got to put him on special teams and just see how his body holds up,” he said. “You don’t want to throw him into a game right now and give them 20-30 snaps (on defense) and and do it that way. Special teams to start and then we’ll go from there.”

Listen to the full conversation in the Four-Down Territory segment of the podcast at this link or in the player below.

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