The Seattle Seahawks are reuniting with a familiar face. On Thursday, Sept. 11, the team elevated veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin off the practice squad to the active 53-man roster. This will be Griffin’s fifth season with the Seahawks, following a productive four-year stint with the team from 2017 to 2020.
In a corresponding move, the Seahawks released Cody White. White, who was not subject to waivers, signed with the team’s practice squad, essentially swapping places with Griffin. The 6-foot-3-inch wide receiver signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 as an undrafted free agent before heading to Seattle in 2024. White has appeared in five career games for the Seahawks. In Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, he played five offensive snaps and returned two kicks for 59 combined yards.
Why the Seahawks Signed Griffin
Griffin becomes the sixth cornerback on the Seahawks‘ roster, bolstering a secondary dealing with some injury issues. Pro-Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon has missed multiple practices this week while dealing with a knee injury. He’s questionable for the team’s Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Safeties Nick Emmanwori (ankle) and Julian Love (groin) have also missed multiple practices and are questionable to play.
Griffin, who signed with the Seahawks during the offseason, gives the Seahawks some added experienced depth at cornerback, having appeared in 106 games with 82 starts over his eight-year NFL career,” writes John Boyle, a senior reporter for the Seahawks.
The signing comes in the wake of a frustrating 17-13 loss to the rival 49ers. Blown coverages were a major subplot of the game. Fourth-year corner Riq Woolen had a particularly difficult day, allowing two major completions, including a contested touchdown catch, during the 49ers‘ game-winning fourth-quarter drive. When asked if Woolen would retain his starting spot Sunday against the Steelers, head coach Mike MacDonald ambiguously said, “We’ll see.
While Griffin is unlikely to claim Woolen’s starting role, at least in Week 2, his presence on the roster could mean a more diversified rotation in the secondary. Veteran cornerback Josh Jobe also saw a lot of action in Week 1 already, playing 61 of 76 snaps and snagging an interception off Brock Purdy. The other two cornerbacks on the active roster are Derion Kendrick and Nehemiah Pritchett.
Griffin’s History With the Seahawks
The Seahawks selected Griffin in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, at No. 90 overall. From 2017 to 2020, Griffin played 57 games for the Hawks, logging 249 tackles and five interceptions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2019.
Griffin notably played alongside his twin brother, Shaquem, for three seasons in Seattle. Following his first Seahawks tenure, Shaquill had stops in Jacksonville, Houston, Carolina, and Minnesota. The 30-year-old appears to have plenty left in the tank. He played all 17 games for a stout Vikings defense last season and racked up 41 tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions.
In one respect, Griffin could be a temporary depth piece for a banged-up Seahawks secondary. However, there’s a solid chance he becomes a key contributor for the team, especially if the injuries persist. Fans will get their second “first-glimpse” of Griffin in Seahawks colors Sunday in Pittsburgh.
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