Seahawks snap counts vs. Lions: Will Tukuafu, DeShawn Shead show their versatility

Seahawks fullback Will Tukuafu played 21 snaps Monday night against Detroit, including seven on offense, three at defensive tackle and seven on special teams.

BY BRADY HENDERSON

Oct 6, 2015, 6:29 PM Updated: 6:47 pm

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Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead could be activated to the active roster this week. (AP)

(AP)

How do you keep a job as one of two fullbacks on a team’s 53-man roster? You play much more than just fullback, as Will Tukuafu does for the Seahawks. He played 21 snaps Monday night against Detroit, including seven on offense, three at defensive tackle and seven on special teams.

“This is extremely unique, that a guy can play on both sides of the football,” coach Pete Carroll said afterward. “He’s playing tight end, fullback and defensive tackle, and he’s instrumental in our special teams. Not many guys can do that.”

Here are the position-by-position snap counts from Seattle’s win over Detroit along with a few notes:

DEFENSE (56 total)

Defensive backs

Richard Sherman: 56 (100%)
Cary Williams: 56 (100%)
Kam Chancellor: 56 (100%)
Earl Thomas: 56 (100%)
DeShawn Shead: 32 (57%)
Marcus Burley: 4 (7%)

Shead replaced an injured Burley at nickelback in the first quarter, checking off another position that he’s played in Seattle’s secondary. He’s been a backup at both safety spots – starting the second game of the season for Chancellor – and he also started at cornerback in a preseason game when injuries left Seattle thin at that spot. Chancellor, meanwhile, didn’t miss a snap against Detroit after being held out of 10 of them last week in his first game back.

Linebackers

K.J. Wright: 56 (100%)
Bobby Wagner: 56 (100%)
Bruce Irvin: 44 (79%)

Nothing surprising here. As previously noted, Wright and Wagner typically never leave the field while Irvin is sometimes subbed out.

Defensive linemen

Jordan Hill: 48 (86%)
Cliff Avril: 46 (82%)
Michael Bennett: 45 (80%)
Ahtyba Rubin: 21 (38%)
Frank Clark: 17 (30%)
Cassius Marsh: 10 (18%)
David King: 10 (18%)
Will Tukuafu: 3 (5%)

Hill led the way in snaps as he started for for an injured Brandon Mebane at nose tackle in addition to handling his usual duties as an inside rusher in passing situations. Bennett typically plays the most of Seattle’s defensive linemen, but he left the game briefly with an injury. King was active for the first time this season.

OFFENSE (65 total)

Running backs

Thomas Rawls: 38 (58%)
Fred Jackson: 18 (28%)
Derrick Coleman: 16 (25%)
Will Tukuafu: 11 (17%)

Rawls started for an injured Marshawn Lynch. Coleman was at times used as Seattle’s lone running back after Jackson was injured in the third quarter.

Wide receivers

Jermaine Kearse: 50 (77%)
Doug Baldwin: 49 (75%)
Tyler Lockett: 37 (57%)
Chris Matthews: 22 (34%)
Ricardo Lockette: 4 (6%)
B.J. Daniels: 2 (3%)

Daniels was active for the first this season as Seattle had dressed five receivers in each of the previous three games. Lockette left the game in the first half and didn’t return.

Tight ends

Jimmy Graham: 49 (75%)
Luke Willson: 26 (40%)
Cooper Helfet: 3 (5%)

Willson re-assumed the No. 2 tight-end duties after missing last week’s game.

Note: Quarterback Russell Wilson and Seattle’s starting offensive linemen played all 65 snaps.