Freddie

Swain

Swain was a sixth-round pick of the Seahawks back in 2020 and caught 38 passes for 502 yards and six touchdowns in his two seasons with the team. He spent time with the Broncos and Dolphins in 2022 and spent most of last season on the Dolphins’ practice squad. Swain didn’t play a regular-season snap in 2023 and has appeared in just four regular-season games over the last two years. He’ll have to battle for a spot on the Bears’ 53-man roster this offseason. In addition to Swain, the Bears also signed tight end Tommy Sweeney.

It’s possible Sermon returns to the Eagles by way of the practice squad after the team waived him with an injury designation. Sermon rushed 30 times for 105 yards and three touchdowns this season but also lost a key fumble in the second preseason game against the Browns. In addition to Sermon, the Browns also released/waived WR Devon Allen, LB Quinton Bell, QB Ian Book, RB Kennedy Brooks, DT Robert Cooper, WR Britain Covey, CB Mekhi Garner, OG Julian Good-Jones, WR Jadon Haselwood, DE Tarron Jackson, TE Tyree Jackson, LB Kyron Johnson, WR Johnny King, LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams, S Tristin McCollum, LB Nicholas Morrow, WR Joseph Ngata, DE Janarius Robinson, OG Tyrese Robinson, TE Brady Russell, DT Olive Sagapolu, DT Caleb Sanders, CB Josiah Scott, OG Josh Sills, P Arryn Siposs, WR Freddie Swain, LB B en VanSumeren, S K’Von Wallace, WR Greg Ward, and DT Marvin Wilson.

Swain has experience with Russell Wilson. This is a major sign that the injuries for Courtland Sutton (hamstring) and Kendall Hinton (hamstring) aren’t trending in the right direction. Swain was active for the Dolphins in Week 14 and played seven snaps. He caught 25 balls for 343 yards and four touchdowns with Russ in Seattle in 2021.

More importantly, the elevation likely spells the absence of River Cracraft, who is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Expectations should be held in check considering Jaylen Waddle was cleared to play, leaving Cracraft likely jockeying with Cedrick Wilson for snaps behind Trent Sherfield.

Swain flashed some potential as the Seahawks’ third receiver last year, scoring four times on 25 receptions. However, he struggled throughout training camp this year, so Seattle moved on from him to free up space for younger receivers. Once he is familiar with Miami’s scheme, Swain could be brought up to the Dolphins’ active roster.

Swain, only 24, had four touchdown catches and 40 targets last season while playing 592 offensive snaps for the Seahawks. Most Seahawks beat reporters have noted that he had a brutal 2022 training camp and was running behind seventh-rounder Dareke Young. But he’s done enough on an NFL field that some other organization might give him a shot.

Swain’s score was a blatant coverage bust. Even with Russell Wilson struggling and second-rounder Dee Eskridge added to the Seahawks’ receiver corps, 2020 sixth-rounder Swain managed to improve his rookie marks across the board, going from 13/159/2 to 25/343/4. He was a valuable role player behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, one who gobbled up snaps during Eskridge’s lengthy absence with a concussion. With each of the Seahawks’ top-four wideouts under contract for 2022, Swain and Eskridge will battle for No. 3 duties. The question is whether Wilson will remain in Seattle. Swain remains waiver wire fodder in Dynasty leagues despite this season’s step forward.

With Tyler Lockett (COVID) out in Week 15 against the Rams, Swain played 91% of the snaps but caught just one pass for 25 yards on a single target. He’s well off the fantasy map.

Swain managed only one target, even though Tyler Lockett was on the COVID list. DK Metcalf and Gerald Everett were Russell Wilson’s top-two targets against a tough Rams secondary. Swain’s quiet night cements the notion that he should be left on the waiver wire in all fantasy leagues.

D’Wayne Eskridge and Freddie Swain were also without injury statuses. Outside of Tyler Lockett, who is currently on the COVID-19 list, the Seahawks’ receivers are all healthy for this game. If Lockett remains out, Metcalf would be in line for a massive role versus the Rams. He would be a low-end WR1 with Eskridge and Swain rotating as the team’s No. 2 receiver.