Seahawks elevate DT Robert Nkemdiche from practice squad

Robert Nkemdiche is on track to play in a regular-season game for the first time since November 2019. The Seahawks announced they elevated the veteran defensive lineman from their practice squad Saturday.

The former first-round pick ended up with the Seahawks in April, ending a lengthy stay out of football. Nkemdiche was not with a team in 2020, with the Dolphins having released him in November 2019 after just two games.

A groin injury halted Nkemdiche’s progress in training camp and forced him to miss the Seahawks’ preseason slate. The Seahawks released the Ole Miss alum on cutdown day but re-signed him on a practice squad deal soon after. Evidently, the former Cardinals interior D-lineman has recovered from the groin issue. Nkemdiche will join a Seahawks D-line that fared well in Week 1, a 28-16 road win in which the reassembled front put frequent pressure on Carson Wentz.

The Cardinals cut bait on Nkemdiche in 2019, weeks after he showed up to training camp out of shape. Nkemdiche suffered a torn ACL in 2018 but had not stood out prior to the injury. The former No. 1 recruit in college football has just six career starts and 4.5 sacks — all coming in 2018 — but may well have the opportunity to see game action again and do so on his 27th birthday.