Bobby Wagner is entering the final season of his contract with the Seattle Seahawks and would like a new deal before the start of the season, but the All-Pro linebacker has no intention of becoming a distraction.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Wagner is expected to be in attendance when the Seahawks open training camp on Wednesday, as he wants to be with his teammates and continue to be a good leader. However, he will likely be “cautious” by trying to limit his exposure to injury.
#Seahawks star LB Bobby Wagner is expected to show up for training camp tomorrow, sources say, because of the kind of leader he is and wanting to be there with his teammates. He may not put himself in harm’s way until a deal gets done, and he’ll be cautious. But he’ll be there.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 23, 2019
The Seahawks entered the offseason with several key defensive players looking for new contracts, and Wagner is one of them. Frank Clark was another, but Seattle doesn’t have to worry about paying him after trading him to the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed was also on that list as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, but some recent off-field trouble probably means his contract will have to wait.
That leaves Wagner, who has been one of the best linebackers in football for several years and recorded 138 total tackles in 2018. He’s the heart of a Seattle defense that has been torn down and rebuilt over the past two years, so it would not be a surprise if they give him what he wants prior to Week 1.
