Seahawks bring back DB DeShawn Shead on one-year deal

A familiar face from yesteryear is returning to the Seattle Seahawks secondary.

Veteran defensive back DeShawn Shead has signed with Seattle, as first confirmed by his agency Reign Sports. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times was among those reporting it’s a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract worth $805,000.

Shead was signed as a UDFA by the Seahawks in the 2012 season, and spent his first few seasons as a reserve safety and special teams contributor. By 2015, after Cary Williams was mercifully jettisoned from the team, Shead became starting cornerback. He played in 15 regular season games in 2016, but a torn ACL in the postseason sidelined him for virtually all but a handful of snaps in 2017.

The 30-year-old spent 2018 with the Detroit Lions, playing in 12 games but ultimately ending his season on injured reserve with a knee problem.

Condotta reported that Shead had a workout with the team on Friday and that the plan is to have him play at safety, where depth isn’t exactly plentiful. We already know that he’s a capable starting cornerback, so this is pretty cool news.

Also of note, the Seahawks signed LB Jawuan Johnson out of TCU, placed LB Emmanuel Ellerbee on injured reserve, and waived WR Caleb Scott with a non-football injury designation.