Joey Hunt promoted to 53, Cyril Grayson added to practice squad

The Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday promoted center Joey Hunt from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster, and filled out their practice squad as well.

The team did not have to make a roster move in order to make space for Hunt, as Seattle only had 52 players on the active roster after not filling the empty spot created when linebacker Josh Forrest was placed on injured reserve.

As a result of the team filling out its 53-man roster, it was able to resign Isaiah Battle to the practice squad. For those who recall, the team had to release Battle once they had dropped the roster to 52 due to CBA constraints.

In addition to bringing Battle back to the practice squad, the team also signed Garrison Smith and Cyril Grayson to the practice squad. Smith has been on and off the 53 man roster for the Seahawks this year and last after being claimed off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers at final roster cuts in 2016.

Grayson is a name that many fans likely remember from the hype surrounding his speed. A college track star, Grayson recorded a 4.33 time in the forty (hand timed) at the LSU pro day last spring, leading to a contract as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks. Grayson spent training camp with the Hawks, but was waived at the cutdown to 53. He was then added to the practice squad for a couple of days, however, he was released from the practice squad before week 1. The Indianapolis Colts then added him to their practice squad for about a month before releasing him in mid-October.

It is Grayson’s blazing speed that makes this move interesting. With Grayson possessing track and field sprinter speed, adding him to the practice squad at this junction could be a move to gain leverage in contract extension negotiations with speedster Paul Richardson. Or it could be a sign that contract talks with Richardson have broken down, and the team does not expect him to return in 2018. In either case, Seahawks fans are likely to be more hyped about the addition of a blazing speedster to the practice squad than about the promotion of a backup center to the 53 man roster.

As least the roster should be at a full 53 for the game Sunday against Jacksonville.