RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks heart Connor Williams has unexpectedly determined to retire at 27 years outdated, strolling away from the group with eight video games left this season.
Coach Mike Macdonald mentioned Friday that the seven-year veteran made the choice earlier this week for “private causes.” The one different element he supplied on Williams’ reasoning was that it was not due to any points along with his surgically repaired knee. Macdonald is underneath the impression the choice is last, saying he does not assume there’s an opportunity Williams modifications his thoughts.
“I do not imagine so,” Macdonald mentioned. “We’re honoring his needs, and we’ll maintain all these causes and conversations personal for apparent causes and need him the most effective.”
Macdonald mentioned Olu Oluwatimi will take over at heart and that the Seahawks most likely will make a roster transfer Saturday.
Williams had began all 9 video games for Seattle (4-5) this season and performed each offensive snap after signing with the group throughout coaching camp. He was at observe Monday when the Seahawks returned from their bye to start preparations for Sunday’s sport in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, however he was then listed as a nonparticipant in observe the previous three days with a not-injury-related/private designation.
Macdonald would not specify when he began to have an inkling that Williams was pondering of retiring. Requested when Williams informed him of his choice, Macdonald mentioned, “It has been a course of all through the week.”
“You begin stepping into timetables and all that, I might moderately maintain it personal with … Connor and the issues that he is working by means of,” Macdonald mentioned. “However it was this week.”
Williams’ departure offers a significant blow to Seattle’s embattled offensive line, which ranks twenty seventh in cross block win price and has struggled to create motion within the run sport. Accidents have pressured the Seahawks to make use of three totally different proper tackles in Abraham Lucas’ absence. They’ve additionally rotated at proper guard, the place Anthony Bradford and rookie third-round choose Christian Haynes have struggled to the purpose that Seattle thought of the opportunity of shifting Williams there.
Lucas will make his 2024 debut Sunday, although he won’t play each snap in his first sport after knee surgical procedure in January. Lucas was a full participant the previous two days of observe.
“We’re anticipating to see him proper now in a fairly vital method,” Macdonald mentioned. “We’re nonetheless on a development right here, so the quantity of reps that he’ll get, we’ll see as the sport sort of unfolds. We’ve got a plan. We’ve got a goal rep rely. We’ll sort of go away that in-house proper now, however excited to see him go do his factor.”
Huge receiver DK Metcalf was a full participant all week and can return from the MCL sprain that sidelined him for the previous two video games. However the Seahawks will probably be with out No. 1 tight finish Noah Fant (groin) and backup Brady Russell (foot), along with Williams.
Oluwatimi, a 2023 fifth-round choose, was in line to take over the beginning job this season till the Seahawks signed Williams to a one-year, $4 million deal on Aug. 11. He has performed solely 4 offensive snaps this season and was a wholesome scratch 4 occasions in favor of undrafted rookie Jalen Sundell, who has been the one different backup heart on Seattle’s 53-man roster.
Oluwatimi made one fill-in begin as a rookie.
“He is a man that is been knocking on the door for some time,” Macdonald mentioned. “Clearly it is an unexpected circumstance that you have sort of acquired to tackle head-on, however the silver lining in the entire thing is we get to see Olu go do his factor. This man has been working actually onerous. Mainly began at heart for us the entire offseason till we signed Connor. Had a very good week of observe with Connor not right here, and onward we go.”
Williams made it again for the group’s Sept. 8 opener regardless of being solely 9 months faraway from a torn ACL — the second of his NFL profession — that he sustained with the Miami Dolphins that ended his 2023 season and required surgical procedure. By 10 weeks, he ranked twenty fifth amongst facilities in cross block win price and lately struggled with some errant shotgun snaps, together with one he sailed effectively over Geno Smith’s head in Week 8 for a 19-yard loss.
Williams handled a speech obstacle as a younger little one, writing in a 2017 article on NFL.com that he was a frequent goal of bullies. He was chosen within the second spherical in 2018 out of Texas by the Dallas Cowboys and performed left guard for his first 4 seasons earlier than shifting to heart after he signed with the Dolphins in 2022.
“Connor’s been in my nook the entire time he is been right here,” Oluwatimi mentioned. “I have been in his nook the entire time he is been right here. Completely happy for him. He is at all times going to be my dawg.”
