Seahawks claim D’Andre Walker, other former UGA players added to practice squads

ATHENS — The Seattle Seahawks haven’t seen former Georgia linebacker D’Andre Walker play a game since the 2018 season, but they were quick to grab him off waivers after he was cut by the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.

There was good news for other former Bulldogs who had gotten cut on Saturday as well. Seven former Georgia player are signed to teams’ 16-man practice squads.

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Former UGA fan favorites like Elijah Holyfield, Isaac Nauta, Lawrence Cager and Eli Wolf will continue their NFL careers on said squads.

Walker, however, is on Seattle’s 53-man roster. That means he will be suiting up at a stadium near many Georgia fans soon when the Seahawks open at Atlanta on Sept. 13.

One can’t help but think former Seattle scout Jim Nagy, who invited Walker to the Senior Bowl following the 2018 season, had something to do with the Seahawks’ roster move.

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Nagy commented on Seattle’s acquisition on Sunday, saying much of the same things he said when asked about Walker two seasons ago.

“They key for newest  Seahawk D’Andre Walker is health,” Nagy said. “Going back to his time at Georgia, he stood out on tape … Walker has the pass rush talent to be a factor if he can stay on the field.”

Nagy had said much the same when asked about Walker’s health sidelining from playing in the annual all-star classic in Mobile, Ala.

Walker, no doubt, was on his way to MVP honors in the 2018 SEC Championship game when he left the game late in the third quarter with a then-undisclosed injury.

Georgia was leading Alabama 28-21 and Walker had already recorded a sack, two QB hurries, five tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.

Once Walker went out, then freshman Brenton Cox came in, and the production was not the same.

Walker tried to practice and play in the Sugar Bowl, but he had a hidden ailment that ultimately led to sports hernia surgery and being on injured reserved last season.

Former Georgia defensive lineman Michael Barnett is the Bulldog who will sign this season on injured reserved after signing a late free-agent deal with New England.

Barnett was impressing the Patriots three practices in when he suffered a knee injury. New England opted to keep him and place him on IR rather than reach an injury settlement, which was good news for Barnett.

Here’s a list of the Georgia football players who were signed to NFL practice squads on Sunday:

Signed

• Isaac Nauta, Detroit Lions (2019)

• Lawrence Cager, New York Jets

• Elijah Holyfield, Philadelphia Eagles (2019)