Following a series of costly mistakes in the Seahawks’ 26-21 win over the New York Jets, the team has made significant changes to its return unit. Dee Williams, who had handled all of the Seahawks’ punt returns this season, was waived, and Jaelon Darden was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Browns. Darden, a wide receiver and return specialist, has had a solid career in the NFL since 2021, primarily serving as Cleveland’s punt returner with 22 returns for 234 yards. He has yet to fumble in over 100 combined punt and kickoff returns in both the regular season and playoffs, a statistic that makes him a reliable option for the Seahawks.
Williams had a tough outing in the Jets game, notably fumbling a kickoff return that led to an early Jets touchdown, in addition to muffing two punts earlier in the season. Laviska Shenault Jr. also contributed to the team’s special-teams troubles with a fumble on a kickoff return against the Jets, leading to his release. The Seahawks’ decision to overhaul their return unit reflects their need for more consistent and error-free performance in key moments.
Special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh emphasized that Darden’s experience, including his solid preseason performance against the Seahawks, should allow him to quickly integrate into the team’s punt return duties. Darden’s NFL career includes 78 punt returns for 760 yards and 27 kickoff returns for 565 yards. Harbaugh expressed confidence that Darden’s experience, coupled with his familiarity from preseason games, would give him the ability to provide a spark to the Seahawks’ special teams.
Harbaugh also noted that Darden might contribute to kickoff returns as well, as the team seeks better performances in all aspects of special teams. Running back Kenny McIntosh, who has shown promise as a returner, will also be in the mix for kickoff duties.
The Seahawks’ special teams struggles didn’t end with the return units. The team also allowed a blocked extra point and a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, compounding their issues. Despite these setbacks, Harbaugh remains optimistic that the team can bounce back and show its true potential, believing that the poor performance against the Jets was an anomaly. The team is working to address its special-teams challenges, with a renewed focus on fundamentals and consistency in the upcoming games.