To this point, the 2025 campaign has gone better than expected for the Seattle Seahawks. With a 9-3 record heading into Week 14, the Seahawks are neck-and-neck when it comes to their race for the top seed in the NFC West division with the Los Angeles Rams. While the Rams hold the tiebreaker over them currently, these two teams still have one very important matchup against each other on their schedule.
Not much has gone wrong for the Seahawks this season. One guy who hasn’t contributed at all, though, is veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who has been dealing with a back injury. The good news is that it never seemed like Seattle was expecting much from him this year, but on Wednesday, they made an intriguing decision involving Hankins’ future with the team.
Seahawks Waive Johnathan Hankins with Non-Injury Settlement
Hankins was initially selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, and he gradually turned himself into a reliable interior defensive lineman over the course of his career. Hankins is a strong run defender who can also create pressure on quarterbacks, despite almost always facing double teams.
In addition to playing for the Giants, Hankins has spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and the Seahawks. In 2024, Hankins played in all 17 games for Seattle, racking up 30 tackles, one sack, one interception, and one pass deflection during his time on the field. With Hankins returning to the team for the 2025 season, he seemed set to contribute along the defensive line again.
Instead, a back injury has prevented Hankins from playing this year, and he’s spent the entire season on the reserve/non-football injury list. Last month, head coach Mike Macdonald revealed that Hankins won’t play this season, but that could change after the team waived Hankins with a non-injury settlement on Wednesday, clearing the path for him to sign with another team once he clears waivers.
“Official NFL transactions: Seahawks waive Johnathan Hankins from reserve/non-football-injury list, a vested veteran ‘non-injury settlement,’” Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune shared in a post on X. “The 33-year-old nose tackle can now upon clearing waivers be a free agent. He hasn’t practiced or played all year (because) of a back issue.”
Seahawks Set to Move Forward Without Johnathan Hankins
GettyThe Seahawks have waived veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins with a non-injury settlement
While Hankins does have a back injury, it seems like there’s more than meets the surface when it comes to his inability to get on the field this season. Whatever the reason may be, though, the Seahawks haven’t missed Hankins too much to this point, as Byron Murphy II has filled in at his nose tackle position, while Leonard Williams and Mike Morris have chipped in as the team’s top defensive ends.
In the meantime, Seattle will continue preparing for its upcoming Week 14 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Every game is important for the Seahawks moving forward, and with the Falcons dealing with several key injuries, Seattle should be favored to come out on top in this one. Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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