RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks addressed depth concerns in the defensive backfield by acquiring Quandre Diggs from the Detroit Lions on Tuesday in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick.
Seattle has major depth worries at safety after Bradley McDougald and Lano Hill missed Sunday’s loss to Baltimore with injuries. Hill is expected to be out a few weeks with an elbow injury, while Seattle is hoping McDougald will return soon after being sidelined by back spasms.
Diggs will add some needed versatility. He can play free safety and nickel and could be an option after free safety Tedric Thompson has struggled in coverage at times this season. Seattle coach Pete Carroll has been critical of some big plays given up by Thompson, including a 50-yard pass in the loss to the Ravens.
“Well, we made a big mistake early. Gave them a freebie down the field. That’s just distasteful,” Carroll said. “I hate that we gave them that because there’s no way that should’ve happened.”
Seattle also received a seventh-round pick in 2021 as part of the trade.
Diggs started 40 games in four-plus seasons with the Lions. He was a sixth-round pick by Detroit in 2015 and developed into a capable starter. He has started the past 26 games he played in for the Lions and had three interceptions in both 2017 and 2018.
Also Tuesday, the Lions announced they were putting second-year running back Kerryon Johnson on injured reserve. Johnson left Sunday’s loss to Minnesota with a knee injury.
Johnson was impressive as a rookie last year, bringing a much-needed boost to Detroit’s running game, but he went on injured reserve with knee problems then as well.
Johnson had 308 yards rushing and two TDs in the first seven games of the season.
“You know how much we value Kerryon and what a great part of our offense and our team he is, and he is still here and he’s still part of all of that, certainly,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said. “On the field, we’ll push forward as normal and we think that we get good production with Ty Johnson and J.D. McKissic, and we think those guys are ready to step into roles.”
