Linebacker Chris Paul Jr., who spent the entire 2025 season grinding it out on our Seahawks practice squad, just got the kind of news no player wants: he was released on Thursday. If that wasn’t tough enough, the guy cleared waivers, meaning not a single other team in the league wanted to put in a claim for him. It’s a brutal reality check, confirming that Paul’s fall from a promising draft pick has been as swift as it is shocking, leaving the Emerald City faithful wondering what could’ve been.
From Rams Hope to Seahawks Grind
Remember when Paul was drafted in the fifth round by the L.A. Rams in 2025? Rams fans were genuinely hyped, thinking they had snagged a future piece for their starting defense. But then came the first surprise gut punch: Paul was one of the most unexpected cuts at the end of their 2025 training camp. Not only did he fail to make the Rams’ main roster, but they didn’t even want him on their practice squad. Ouch. That’s when our Seahawks stepped in, picking him up for our practice squad for the entire 2025 season. It felt like a low-risk, high-reward move for us, a chance for a young player to develop and potentially contribute. We hoped he’d turn that opportunity into something real.
History Repeats Itself, and It Stings
Heading into this 2026 season, there was definite buzz that Paul would finally compete for a spot on the Seahawks’ 53-man roster as a backup. He’d put in a year with the team, learned the system, and theoretically, was poised to make that jump. But, man, history just decided to repeat itself in the worst possible way. Paul was released by the Hawks on Thursday, and the news got even heavier when he cleared waivers. Think about that for a second, my friend. Not one team across the entire league looked at his tape, looked at his potential, and said, “Yeah, we want a piece of that.” That’s gotta sting, right? He’ll revert to Seattle’s injury reserve, but the word is the Seahawks are likely going to release him outright with an injury settlement before Sunday, making him a free agent once again. Curtis Allen even confirmed it, stating the team will likely release him.
It’s genuinely hard to believe how quick and emphatic Paul’s fall has been. This is a guy who, just last year, was expected to compete for a starting spot on an NFL defense. Now, in 2026, he’s simply “just looking for any job” in the league. The Rams didn’t want him, then no other team wanted him, and after giving him a full year to prove himself, even our Seahawks couldn’t find a spot. This move, while tough for Paul, opens up space for someone else to step up as our regular season is just around the corner. Coach Macdonald and OC Fleury are clearly making those tough calls early, looking for guys who can stick. Let’s keep our eyes on who rises to the occasion as we get closer to kickoff. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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