Full Breakdown
Seahawks Place Rookie Safety Bud Clark and OL Mason Richman on Season-Ending IR
8/26/2026, 11:16:37 AM
Injury Fallout from Preseason Loss to Titans
During the Seahawks’ preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, August 23, 2026, rookie safety Bud Clark was carted off after breaking his right ankle on the first defensive snap, and offensive lineman Mason Richman left the field with a serious lower-body injury on the opening drive. The team announced the next day that both players were placed on injured reserve, rendering them ineligible to return for the 2026 regular season. To fill the roster holes, Seattle signed tackle Derrick Graham, safety Tysheem Johnson and running back Justin Jones.
Background & Context
Seattle entered the 2026 preseason as the defending Super Bowl LX champion and the NFL’s 2025 points-allowed leader (17.2 points per game). The secondary had already been thinned by the loss of safety Rodney Thomas II to a hand injury earlier in the week, and wide receiver Jake Bobo suffered a season-ending knee injury during a joint practice with the Titans. Coach Mike Macdonald emphasized the team’s “style of ball” and depth-by-competition philosophy throughout training camp.
Data & Statistics
- Bud Clark – second-round, 64th overall pick in the 2026 draft out of Texas Christian University; broke right ankle.
- Mason Richman – 2025 seventh-round pick from the University of Iowa; sustained a major lower-body injury.
- IR Rules – Players placed on IR before the roster-cut deadline cannot be activated for the season.
- Roster Moves – Added three players to the 90-man roster: Derrick Graham (undrafted Tulane, 2026), Tysheem Johnson (undrafted 2025, transferred from Ole Miss to Oregon), and Justin Jones (previously on Seattle’s practice squad).
- Depth Implications – The safety group now includes starters Ty Okada and Julian Love, plus competitors AJ Finley, D’Anthony Bell, Maxen Hook, and the recently signed Rodney Thomas II.
Official Statements & Responses
Coach Macdonald called the injuries “heart-breakers” and said the team must “reevaluate where we’re at” as it approaches final roster cuts. He noted that depth players who performed well in the preseason, such as AJ Finley and D’Anthony Bell, will receive increased snaps while the staff assesses the safety rotation. The organization also highlighted that the newly signed players will compete for practice-squad spots after clearing waivers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Two guys that we love, that play our style of ball, that are our types of guys, teammates love them, great teammates, great guys, great football players, they have great futures,” — Mike Macdonald
- “We're going to have to reevaluate where we're at, but we saw some good things today out of AJ (Finley) and D'Anthony (Bell), so we'll see,” — Mike Macdonald
Impact on Defensive Depth
With Clark unavailable, the safety depth chart tightens. Ty Okada, a 2023 undrafted free agent who posted career highs last season, is projected to start opposite Julian Love. AJ Finley and D’Anthony Bell are expected to see significant preseason-final action. Rodney Thomas II provides an additional veteran option. On the line, Richman’s loss opens a tackle slot that could be filled by existing backups such as Josh Jones, Amari Kight, or Bryce Cabeldue, or by the newly signed Derrick Graham if he clears waivers.
What’s Next
Seattle must reduce its roster from 90 to 53 players before the upcoming Sunday deadline. The coaching staff will continue to evaluate the health of its secondary and the performance of the newly added depth players as it finalizes the roster for the season opener.
