How will Seahawks use LB Mychal Kendricks if K.J. Wright is healthy?

Jun 28, 2019, 12:52 PM

The Seahawks re-signed LB Mychal Kendricks in early March. (AP)

(AP)

Seattle Sports

The Seahawks kick off training camp on July 25, and until then, Brock Huard and Mike Salk will count down the top 25 most intriguing Seahawks every weekday at 8:30 a.m. Their list continues with No. 17: LB Mychal Kendricks.

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Quick look

• Signed with Seattle last year after being released by the Cleveland Browns following insider trading charges.
• Started four games and recorded two sacks and 19 tackles.
• Suffered a broken leg in Week 13 and was placed on the Injured Reserve list.
• Was re-signed by the Seahawks in March.

What Brock Huard is saying

“May be one of the best players on the team, according to Mike Salk, but how in the world does he get on the field?” Brock Huard said. “I like that take. And you’re right. This is the deepest position on Seattle’s roster, as far as just experience and pros. K.J. Wright, when healthy, is your weakside linebacker. Bobby Wagner’s the third-best player in the entire NFL according to Pro Football Focus, and he’s probably the No. 1 linebacker, with Luke Kuechly’s concussions. So that’s one and two. Mychal Kendricks is not a strong side linebacker. So, how does he fit? Where does he fit? What does that look like on this team?”

What the Seahawks are saying

“Mychal Kendricks did a nice job when he played for us last year,” head coach Pete Carroll said earlier this year. “He was very aggressive and showed how instinctive he was. Really fast and loves the game.”

“They very much plan on, assuming Kendricks is available, getting all three of those players on the field at once,” ESPN’s Brady Henderson said following a conversation with Carroll. “Even though we saw Kendricks mainly play the weakside linebacker spot that Wright has played for so many years. So they’re going to get those guys on the field together.”

Why is he on this list?

“Two things,” said KIRO Radio’s Gee Scott. “Number one, the dude’s a football player. They tell me the dude is a real-deal football player who has a knack for and understands the game. And two, he’s got young legs… you won’t have K.J. Wright playing 60-70 percent of snaps. You limit K.J.’s snaps because you want him for the rest of the season. That’s why Mychal Kendricks is so valuable.”

Kendricks signed an extension with the Seahawks earlier this offseason, but he’s still facing an uncertain future as he awaits a sentencing date for insider trading charges. Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters in June that the team is expecting to have Kendricks on the roster this season. If he can stay healthy, the Seahawks could have a stability at a position they struggled to fill last year.