Earl

Mitchell

Mitchell, who couldn’t make the Seahawks out of training camp, announced his “retirement” two months ago. He spent 2017-18 in San Francisco, so he is well versed in DC Robert Saleh’s system. He is experienced depth for a banged up front seven.

A 2010 third-round pick of the Texans, Mitchell took a while to develop into a starter before stretches with the Texans, Dolphins and 49ers. Only 32 years old, Mitchell couldn’t make the Seahawks out of camp this summer.

Mitchell was signed shortly after Seahawks DT Jarran Reed was suspended for six games. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo noted that Mitchell is a vested veteran, so the Seahawks might bring him back in Week 2 rather than guarantee his whole salary by carrying him now. Mitchell was PFF’s No. 98 overall interior defender in 2018 among 130 qualified players.

Mitchell, 31, spent the last two seasons in San Francisco, appearing in 30 games, but played just 363 mediocre snaps last season. The Seahawks hope Mitchell can help offset the loss of DT Jarran Reed, who was suspended earlier this week.

They also met with FB/LB Nick Bellore. Mitchell has been free to sign with teams since the 49ers declined his option in January but has yet to land a deal. He’s just a veteran flyer.

Mitchell was due non-guaranteed $2.85 million salaries in 2019 and 2020 but will not be getting them. The 31-year-old will be a free agent after the Super Bowl, giving him a chance to latch on with another team before the rest of the free-agent group is available to sign in mid-March. Mitchell played 363 largely-ineffective snaps this past season. It’s unclear if he’ll continue to play.

Mitchell has been even bigger than this before, weighing in at 315 at the 2010 Combine. So it’s not completely new. At 6-foot-2, 308, Mitchell at least looks more like an NFL nose tackle. He rotated with Shaun Cody last year, coming in off the bench, and figures to emerge as a starter in his third pro season.

They don’t seem to view nose tackle as a need. “A lot of people think you need a big nose,” Kubiak said. “Those two guys aren’t very big but they’re very active ... and we think the world of ‘em.” Cody started all 16 games in 2011, but split time with Mitchell right down the middle. Mitchell finished with 27 tackles and a sack, and had another sack in the playoffs.

Cody sustained damage to one of his disks in the Texans’ preseason opener. He needed an epidural to relieve the pain. Earl Mitchell will run with the ones at nose tackle going forward.

Cody suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in Week 9. Mitchell, a third-year player out of Arizona, bulked up from 287 pounds to 308 in the offseason. Rookie Jared Crick and newly signed Terrell McClain will rotate in behind Mitchell.