Latest On Seahawks & Malik McDowell

On Saturday, former Seahawks DT Malik McDowell posted on his Twitter account that he was cleared by a top neurologist to play football again.

Regarding the Seahawks never clearly him medically, McDowell said his head injury wasn’t an issue.

“The Seahawks had there own reasoning for not letting me play but my head was not issue,” McDowell writes. “At the end of the day I’m was cleared by a well respected neurologist and that’s that feel how you wanna feel…”

This comes less than a week after Matt Charboneau of the Detroit News reported that the Seahawks filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Michigan on Wednesday that alleges DL McDowell has failed to pay back the $799,238 an arbitrator ordered him to after he was involved in a serious ATV accident. 

This was a breach of McDowell’s contract and he was ordered to repay his $1,599,238 signing bonus to Seattle. The Seahawks were able to recoup $800,000 by not paying McDowell’s salary for the 2018 season.

McDowell’s career remains in question, even though his agent has said he’s ready to return and the Cowboys brought him in for a workout this offseason.

The Cowboys hosted McDowell for a visit back in March, but never offered him a contract. 

McDowell, 22, was selected with the No. 35 overall pick by the Seahawks in 2017 after they elected to trade down with the Jaguars. In total, the Seahawks gave up the No. 34 overall pick and acquired a second- and a sixth-round pick for the right to select McDowell.

McDowell signed a four-year, $6.95 million contract that includes $4.91 million guaranteed. Seattle waived him last year with a non-football injury designation and he later reverted to their injured reserve list before the Seahawks officially parted ways with him this past March.

During his three-year college career at Michigan State, McDowell recorded 88 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and scored one defensive touchdown in 32 games with the Spartans.