Barrett

Ruud

Playing in place of Shelton Quarles (out), Ruud is an excellent IDP pickup if you have time to install him in your IDP fantasy lineup.

Ruud missed a “handful” of plays with the injury last week. “It’s something I’ll just have to get used to probably this year,” Ruud said. “But it hasn’t bothered me too much.” Ruud is tied for the team lead with 20 tackles this season.

Ruud is one of the least effective inside linebackers in football, but he at least gives Seattle a veteran presence at the position after David Hawthorne got away. Lewis is a special teamer, but the Seahawks won’t want him playing as much defense as he did last year. Lutui will earn a spot if he’s in shape.

“They like his veteran presence and his knowledge of the system,” a team source tells Pro Football Weekly. Ruud played under DC Gus Bradley with the Bucs from 2007-08. He’ll be taken off the field on passing downs, when the Seahawks use their “Big Nickel” alignment with SS Kam Chancellor moving to the middle.

“The (MLB) spot is wide open and we have to see what happens,” Carroll said. “We’d love to get that speed on the field if we could.” Wagner is a hard-hitter with exceptional athleticism, but his instincts were questioned in the run up to the draft. He focused exclusively on middle linebacker in Seattle’s rookie camp, however. Where Wagner lines up as a rookie could depend on the health of veteran MLB Barrett Ruud.

Wagner started all four years at Utah State, playing on both the inside and outside. It appears he’ll be in the mix to start in the middle as a rookie, especially with his main competition, Barrett Ruud, still recovering from several injuries. A hard hitter with good speed, Wagner needs to prove he has the instincts to quarterback the defense from day one.

Ruud continues to recover from groin, knee, and shoulder injuries that cost him seven games in 2011. “He is working out, and he’s doing a lot of stuff,” Carroll said. “But we’re going to be very careful with him in bringing him back.” After struggling mightily a season ago, the 28-year-old will need to get back to full health if he hopes to hold down a starting job on an up-and-coming defense.

Ruud was badly outplayed by rookie Colin McCarthy down the stretch last season, and landed on injured reserve in December with a groin injury. He underwent shoulder surgery in January. One of the league’s worst linebackers before going down, Ruud says he “absolutely” has not considered retirement.

Rookie Colin McCarthy will start the rest of the way and has emerged as the Titans’ middle linebacker of the future. Ruud has barely played since Week 9.

The Titans want Ayers on the field as much as possible now that he has a command of the base and nickel packages. McCarthy is playing well enough that Barrett Ruud may be the odd man out once he returns from a groin injury. McCarthy had 11 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in Week 12.