The Seahawks made a subtle but telling roster move on Monday, elevating safety and special teams ace D’Anthony Bell from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster. While it might not make national headlines, this kind of transaction says a lot about where Seattle is right now-battling injuries, navigating suspensions, and trying to squeeze every bit of depth out of the roster as the regular season winds down.
Bell steps in at a time when the Seahawks are juggling multiple personnel challenges. With linebacker Derick Hall serving a one-game suspension-set to return after Week 17’s matchup with the Panthers-Seattle had an open roster spot to fill. And with defensive back Coby Bryant nursing a knee injury that could sideline him, Bell’s versatility in the secondary becomes even more valuable.
Bell’s season has been a bit of a back-and-forth affair, bouncing between the practice squad and active roster. Defensively, he’s only seen 90 snaps, but where he’s really made his mark is on special teams.
He’s logged 238 snaps in that third phase of the game-often the unsung heartbeat of a team’s depth chart-and he’s delivered some impact moments along the way. His blocked punt against the Saints stands out as a game-changer, and he also notched the first half-sack of his career in a loss to the Buccaneers.
Quiet contributions, sure-but the kind that coaches notice.
To make room for Bell, Seattle brought back cornerback Tyler Hall to the practice squad. Hall had been released just last week, so the move keeps him in the building and available if needed down the stretch.
There’s also a subplot to keep an eye on: the Seahawks have a trio of players-running back George Holani, wide receiver Tory Horton, and linebacker Chazz Surratt-who are eligible to return from injured reserve. But here’s the catch: Seattle has already used seven of its eight IR-return designations for the season.
That means only one of those three can be activated before the regular season ends. It’s a tough decision looming for the front office and coaching staff, and it adds another layer of complexity to the roster calculus heading into the final stretch.
For now, Bell gets the call-a player who’s proven he can contribute in the margins, which is often where games are won or lost in December.