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Seattle Seahawks: WR Kasen Williams battling for roster spot at deep receiver position

By Curtis Crabtree, The Sports Xchange
Kasen Williams' (18) four catches for 119 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night was a clear example of the depth Seattle has in its pass catchers. Photo courtesy of Seattle Seahawks/Twitter
Kasen Williams' (18) four catches for 119 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night was a clear example of the depth Seattle has in its pass catchers. Photo courtesy of Seattle Seahawks/Twitter

RENTON, Wash. -- When it comes time for the Seattle Seahawks to make cuts at the end of the month, trimming the roster down at the wide receiver position will be among the most difficult areas the team will face.

Kasen Williams' four catches for 119 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night was a clear example of the depth Seattle has in its pass catchers. Williams repeatedly won jump-ball battles against Chargers' rookie cornerback Michael Davis as the Seahawks compiled 458 yards of total offense in a 48-17 victory.

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"What a great night," head coach Pete Carroll said. "That was really fun to watch. He had three great plays and then he had a better play with taking the ball away from the defender. He showed what he was all about. That was really impressive."

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And yet, Williams could easily still be on the outside looking in when it comes to determining which players will make the final 53-man roster.

"I don't have to worry about that right now," Carroll said. "It's a really good group, we're excited about them, and we'll just see what happens. Just today on the practice field to see Doug (Baldwin) and (Amara) Darboh and (Tyler) Lockett back out there and get flying around just makes you realize how competitive a group it is and how fast we are and how quick we are."

Baldwin and Lockett return as the top two options for quarterback Russell Wilson. Paul Richardson, who was limited in practice after spraining a shoulder on Sunday, proved he could handle an increased workload after Lockett's season-ending leg injury last December. Jermaine Kearse returns as one of Wilson's most trusted targets and rookies Darboh and David Moore each seem more than capable of earning a roster spot.

That doesn't even account for Tanner McEvoy, who had nine catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie last season, or jack-of-all-trades J.D. McKissic who has been a receiver, running back and kick returner in training camp.

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Last year's seventh-round pick Kenny Lawler, Williams, former LSU track star Cyril Grayson Jr. and undrafted rookie Darreus Rogers all are trying to show they are worthy of likely 6-7 spots on the regular-season roster.

Williams has spent two years on the practice squad with Seattle after going undrafted in 2015 out of the University of Washington. A devastating broken leg in college lingered through his senior season and dropped him out of the draft. Now healthy he's able to show the skills that made him the top prep athlete in the state of Washington.

"Extremely happy for Kasen Williams and all his efforts, all his work," Baldwin said. "He's worked tirelessly to come back from injuries to get his opportunities and he got to display that two days ago. I couldn't be happier for him just because of the man he is. He's had an uphill climb and he's done it with grace. He's just been patient and waited for his opportunity and I was so excited for him to be able to see him get his opportunity finally and do extremely well with it."

Luckily for Carroll, they don't have to make those decisions just yet.

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