Ouzts to IR

[kidhawk]

Strong had neck issues as well and they fused it I believe.

I’m pretty sure his neck injury caused him to retire. Loved watching him play.

 

[hawkfan68]

FB is the position I haven't see Fluery talk a lot about...more mixed backfield using WR, TE, etc. Not that he ruled out FB...obviously SF is highly effective utilizing the position. I'm curious to see how that position iterates with the new O schemes.

I was personally excited to see FB being brought back and loved what OOOTZ did in PS and early last year. His injury faded the trajectory a bit.

True but he was on the 49ers staff and they use Kyle Juszczyk quite a bit.

 

[kidhawk]

Seattle Sports is reporting that he's out for the year - https://sports.mynorthwest.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/seattle-seahawks-robbie-ouzts-ir-out-2026

The Seattle Seahawks have placed second-year fullback Robbie Ouzts on injured reserve, ruling him out for the 2026 season.

This is what I’m seeing but did the seahawks say it or are they assuming? There used to be a time that preseason IR meant you couldn’t play that year but that’s not necessarily so.

I have no reason to think he’ll play this year but there’s such a jump to get news out all the time that I always look at these things through a narrow lens

 

[Count Hawkula]

 

[Allweatherfan]

Being placed on IR before the final 53 means they are done for the year

If he was on PUP he would miss the first 4 games

 

[daveCFPrez]

The new Rashaad Penny?

 

[Dallashawksfan]

The new Rashaad Penny?

No , he was a 5th rounder

No big loss

 

[kidhawk]

Being placed on IR before the final 53 means they are done for the year

If he was on PUP he would miss the first 4 games

Used to mean that but they can designate up to two players to return. Not saying they will but that can.

Players who are placed on IR before the start of the regular season can miss the entire season, unless they are designated to return when the roster is trimmed to 53 players prior to the start of the season.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41720499/what-ir-pup-nfi-nfl-roster-designations-explained

 

[EverydayImRusselin]

This is weird IMO. Mac was being cagey about him last week and now he is out for the year. Something feels off.

 

[Trackhawk]

The rule regarding pre-cut down placement on IR was modified in the 2025 off season. I think a lot of media folks are unaware of the rule change, and are simply assuming he is out for the year. I haven’t seen any direct quote from the Hawks or Robbie that this is season ending, despite the high likelihood that it is.

There are a lot of out-of-date sources that talk about pre-cut down IR being mandatory season ending, so be sure to check dates on your sources.

2025 Approved Bylaws and Resolutions

​

Bylaws​

• By Competition Committee: amends Article XVII, Section 17.16 of the Constitution and Bylaws, to permit clubs to designate two players for return at the roster reduction to 53 players.

 

[Jac]

The rule regarding pre-cut down placement on IR was modified in the 2025 off season. I think a lot of media folks are unaware of the rule change, and are simply assuming he is out for the year. I haven’t seen any direct quote from the Hawks or Robbie that this is season ending, despite the high likelihood that it is.

There are a lot of out-of-date sources that talk about pre-cut down IR being mandatory season ending, so be sure to check dates on your sources.

https://operations.nfl.com/rules-officiating/featured-rules​

I knew it seemed different last year but didn't know the actual details. This link cleared it up. So teams can designate two players on IR at the 53 cutdown who will be eligible to return sometime during the year.

 

[sutz]

So, do they have to designate now, when he is placed on IR, or do they make that call on cutdown day? Since we haven't heard anything, I hope it's the latter.

 

[kidhawk]

So, do they have to designate now, when he is placed on IR, or do they make that call on cutdown day? Since we haven't heard anything, I hope it's the latter.

I believe it is on cutdown day. The quesrion I have is even if they make him eligible to return will we actually find out about it?

 

[sutz]

I believe it is on cutdown day. The quesrion I have is even if they make him eligible to return will we actually find out about it?

The league is pretty strict on the status of players, especially about eligibility. Have to keep the gamblers informed.

 

[kidhawk]

The league is pretty strict on the status of players, especially about eligibility. Have to keep the gamblers informed.

I’m sure the league will know but it may get lost in all the cutdown reporting.

 

[gmor]

I smell injury-prone-itis. Ugh.

His game is bases on smashing into people that are usually bigger than him so it's possible to likely he'll be banged up a lot.

 

[FrodosFinger]

Being placed on IR before the final 53 means they are done for the year

If he was on PUP he would miss the first 4 games

Not anymore. Preseason PUP isn't like regular season IR as you can come off at anytime like Emmanwori just did. They can also designate 2 players for IR in which case they'll miss the first four games. I don't know the extent of Ouzts' injury but not a promising prognosis if it is neck related. Fullback isn't as vital to the offense as 3 tight ends in 13 personnel tbh. Back in the day they called it a stinger. Nowadays it's a career ender

 

[CanHawksFan]

You can't mess around with neck injuries. I just hope this doesn't turn into a Chris Carson situation and he has to retire early.

 

[Trackhawk]

So, do they have to designate now, when he is placed on IR, or do they make that call on cutdown day? Since we haven't heard anything, I hope it's the latter.

The players designated to return have to be designated by cut down day. I can see few scenarios in which a team would make that designation before the last minute. Even if a starting QB has a short-term injury, he would likely remain on the 53 at cut downs. Maybe a star receiver with a high ankle sprain.

 

[Trackhawk]

Not anymore. Preseason PUP isn't like regular season IR as you can come off at anytime like Emmanwori just did. They can also designate 2 players for IR in which case they'll miss the first four games. I don't know the extent of Ouzts' injury but not a promising prognosis if it is neck related. Fullback isn't as vital to the offense as 3 tight ends in 13 personnel tbh. Back in the day they called it a stinger. Nowadays it's a career ender

IR and PUP are two different things. Players on IR, like Outzs, do not count against the roster limit, but do count against the cap, PUPpers count against both. There is no limit on how many players can be added to either list, but PUPpers must be declared before the start of training camp.

If you remain on the PUP list after cutdown day, you must miss the first four games. There is no limit on the number of PUPpers on your roster at cutdown, nor on how many of them may be activated during the season.

More than two players can be placed on IR in the pre-season, but only 2 can be designated to return during the season. Any player on IR who is not designated, goes on season ending IR on cutdown day.

Teams are allowed to bring back a maximum of 8 players from IR during the regular season. If a designated player is activated during the regular season, that player counts as one of the eight. In the post-season, teams are allowed to return 2 additional players from IR.