The Seattle Seahawks elevated Irv Charles and Jimmy Ciarlo from the practice squad on Thursday, giving both players a chance to make their team debuts in the Week 6 road matchup against the Denver Broncos. Charles and Ciarlo were the two newest answers to a roster that needed help before kickoff.
The move matters now because Charles is expected to help on kick and punt returns, while Ciarlo gives Seattle another linebacker after injuries left the group thinner than usual. Charles was acquired from the New York Jets in May, but he missed the first five games with a knee issue before being designated to return to practice on October 7.
For Seattle, the timing fits a clear need. The Seahawks struggled with kickoff coverage through the first month of the season and ranked near the bottom of the league in yards allowed per return, so extra special teams help was no small thing. The team also had a full 17-man practice squad again after adding A.J. Finley and Dontae McMillan, which gave it the room to make short-term calls without emptying the cupboard.
Charles' path to this point has been unusually compressed. Seattle activated him to the active roster on Tuesday, then released him a day later to make room for Velus Jones Jr. That kind of turn leaves little doubt about how the Seahawks are sorting out special teams roles from week to week: the job matters, the roster spot is fluid, and the next man up can change by the day.
Ciarlo's route has been steadier but no less unlikely. He signed with Seattle on September 30, went undrafted out of Army in 2024, missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury and was released in May 2025 before spending time with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans. With Drake Thomas out with an ankle injury and Chazz Surratt out with a chest injury, the Seahawks turned to him for depth when they needed it most.
The Broncos game is the first test, and it is the only one that is certain for now. If Charles can steady kickoff and punt return work and Ciarlo can hold up on defense, Seattle may have found two immediate fixes from its practice squad. If not, the roster churn is likely to continue after Thursday.
