The ongoing holdout of Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomashas forced the team to prepare as if he won’t be around. With Kam Chancellor out for the season, that creates two new jobs in the secondary.
One of those spots will go to Bradley McDougald, and the veteran has made it pretty clear which spot he expects to play – and who he expects to play alongside.
“I’ve totally transitioned my mind to strong safety,” McDougald commented after practice on Thursday. “I mean I know free safety. There’s times if the offensive line is too fast that I will have to line up and play free safety and Tedric [Thompson] will play strong safety. As long as you have two safeties who really know the defense who are really smart and versatile you can kind of play them either way. And I feel that with Tedric. You want that balance, and I think Tedric has that.”
Thompson has been the safety alongside McDougald most often in camp. He still has competition from fellow second year Delano Hill as well as Maurice Alexander, the former Rams starter who has been nursing an injury.
Of course, the free safety job will go back to Thomas if/when he rejoins the team. McDougald made it clear that, while he is comfortable with the options they have now, he wouldn’t mind seeing his teammate back.
“I’m still in touch with Earl,” McDougald said. “I haven’t had too much time to text him but I’ve kept him in my prayers and hope he’s doing well. I want him back.”
