Seattle Seahawks Sign Dallas Cowboys Ex CB Kelvin Joseph to Practice Squad

Adding secondary insurance with background knowledge of their upcoming opponent, the Seattle Seahawks look set to take a shot on former second-round pick Kelvin Joseph.
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With a crucial Thursday night road matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on tap, the Seattle Seahawks have brought in a new cornerback to potentially aid preparation for their upcoming opponent.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Seahawks have signed former Cowboys and Dolphins cornerback Kelvin Joseph to their practice squad. The team officially announced the signing on Sunday afternoon as well as receiver Cody White with outside linebacker Levi Bell placed on the practice squad injured reserve and guard Ben Brown released in corresponding moves.

Selected in the second round out of Kentucky in the 2021 NFL Draft, Joseph played in 26 games for Dallas in his first two seasons, including three starts. Primarily a special teams contributor behind starters Travon Diggs, Anthony Brown, and Daron Bland, he produced 36 tackles, a tackle for loss, and four pass breakups while seeing 330 defensive snaps.

After showing promise as a rookie holding quarterbacks to under a 50 percent completion rate when targeting him, Joseph struggled mightily when thrust into the lineup in 2022. On just 18 targets, he allowed 12 receptions for 228 yards and 19 yards per reception while surrendering four touchdowns without any interceptions, yielding a dismal 149.3 passer rating in coverage.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones (7) hauls in a reception for a run and score against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph (1) during the third quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.
Dallas drafted Kelvin Joseph in the second round with hopes he would emerge as a starter, but he only lasted two years with the team before being traded to Jacksonville :: © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Unio / USA TODAY NETWORK

Given those struggles and the talent in front of him on the depth chart, the Cowboys traded Joseph to the Dolphins in exchange for Noah Igbinoghene on August 29. Playing in two games for his new team before being waived, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana native produced two tackles and gave up a pair of receptions for 39 yards on two targets.

At 6-1, 192 pounds, Joseph offers the size and physical play style that the Seahawks have typically preferred at outside cornerback. After losing rookie safety Jerrick Reed II to a season-ending ACL tear, his prior special teams contributions could make him a candidate to quickly elevate off the practice squad to the game day roster, especially with Riq Woolen nursing a sore shoulder and additional depth potentially needed.

At minimum, considering the timing of his addition, coach Pete Carroll and Seattle's staff would be wise to pick Joseph's brain due to his past experience playing in the Cowboys' defensive scheme and matching up against Dak Prescott and their offense on a daily basis.

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Corbin K. Smith
CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.