RENTON -- Carlos Dunlap made sure it wasn't a secret that he wanted out of Cincinnati.
The new Seahawks defensive end listed his Cincinnati home for sale via his Twitter account after playing just 12 snaps for the Bengals in their game against the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago. It was the culmination of frustration for Dunlap, who had seen his playing time gradually decrease over the first several weeks of the season.
Dunlap, 31, who had nine sacks last season for the Bengals, made his displeasure with his circumstances clearly known. The Seahawks then came in and managed to secure a trade for the former Pro Bowl defense end just over a week ago. The Seahawks acquired Dunlap in exchange for interior offensive lineman B.J. Finney and a 2021 seventh-round draft pick.
"My time clearly was up," Dunlap said on Wednesday ahead of his first practice with Seattle. "The coaches came to that conclusion and we had to do we had to do. That's part of the business. Guys are dealt throughout the year and, obviously, no longer because the trade deadline's up, but for me it was just an opportunity to get a fresh start, to go to a team and an organization that wanted me, clearly, by the move that they made.
"I'm super excited. I mean, this is a whole lot better than the hotel room I've been in the last six days."
Dunlap has been in the Seattle for almost a week but hadn't been able to fully join the team until today. With the change in cities and the NFL's COVID-19 protocols, Dunlap had to have five consecutive days of negative test results before being able to enter the team's facility on the sixth day. That process concluded on Tuesday and Wednesday was his first day of work with his new team.
"Getting through our first walk-through, he handled everything right," head coach Pete Carroll said. "I don't see any restriction at all on him playing this week. We'll find out during the week. Really excited to have him out here. He's really pumped about being part of it."
Dunlap, who will seemingly wear No. 43 for the Seahawks due to the shortage of defensive line eligible numbers available. He's spent his entire career with the Bengals and has never experienced a playoff victory. Each of the five times the Bengals made the playoffs during his first 10 seasons with the team, they lost in the Wild Card round. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have failed to win a playoff game just once i the eight trips they've made to the postseason under Pete Carroll.
"At this point in my career, if I was ever put play and put on another jersey, I wanted to go to an organization where I was the last piece to help them win and get a Super Bowl," Dunlap said.
Dunlap joins Seattle to bolster a pass rush that has been extremely lacking this season. The 12 sacks they've accumulated through seven weeks ranks just 24th in the NFL. No player on the roster has more than two sacks as Bobby Wagner, Jamal Adams (who hasn't played since September), Benson Mayowa and Alton Robinson each have a pair to their resume. If not for three sacks of Jimmy Garoppolo last week, the production would look even worse for Seattle.
Dunlap would have led the Seahawks in sacks in 2019. While he managed just one sack in his reduced playing time with the Bengals this season, he's by far the most accomplished pass rusher now on the roster. Dunlap said he believes the fit for his skills in the Seahawks defense will be advantageous as well.
"I feel like it's a great fit," Dunlap said. "I mean these guys fly around. I've been an edge defender my whole career. Been left end, been right end, been in the 4-3 style and this is what we're doing here. I'm being asked to do what I've done my best football doing so it's a win-win situation for me. I don't know how to explain it in any clear terms, but this is definitely a win-win situation for me.
"I'm excited, excited and fired up to do what I do. And then being on the other side, and clearly you know with all the banners that they got up in here, they're used to being in the big games and being on the better side of the big games and I want to compete with those guys and help them win those big games whatever it takes."
Dunlap takes the place of Damontre Moore on the team's roster. Moore was suspended for six games due to a violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Dunlap also accepted a reworked contract that reduced his pay for the remainder of the 2020 season and moved $3 million into a roster bonus due five days after the start of the 2021 league year next March, per Field Yates of ESPN.com. The move helped the Seahawks get under the salary cap and potentially increased the likelihood Dunlap is released from the final year of his deal so he can reach free agency next offseason.
"It wasn't a tough decision. With the way things are going I have full confidence and faith in betting on myself and betting with the Seahawks. Who else would I want to bet with, you know?" Dunlap said.
Injury Updates:
-- Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett had surgery on Tuesday to address bone spurs that continued to be problematic in his right foot. Dorsett posted a photo from the Seattle Surgery Center following the procedure to his instagram page on Tuesday.
Dorsett hasn't played in a game for Seattle this season and has been on injured reserve since September. It seems unlikely he'll be able to make it back before the postseason for the Seahawks at this rate.
"It's a couple months anyways before he'll be able to get back so we'll see what happens," Carroll said.
-- Running back Travis Homer (knee) is expected to return to the lineup in earnest this week against the Buffalo Bills. Carlos Hyde (hamstring) is expected to miss a second straight game.
Meanwhile, Chris Carson will be tested on Friday to see if he can return from the mid-foot sprain that forced to miss last week's game against the 49ers. None of the three took part in practice on Wednesday.
"We brought in Alex Collins to help us out if we need it. He's on a practice squad right now, and we'll see how he works today," Carroll said.
-- Safety Jamal Adams was limited in practice on Wednesday after returning to limited participation in practice last Friday. He's on track to return to the lineup this week against the Bills.
"He's ready to go and pumped and we are too," Carroll said.
-- Cornerback D.J. Reed (hamstring) and tight end Greg Olsen (foot) were newly sidelined players on Wednesday.
Injury Report:
Photo Credit: LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Carlos Dunlap of Cincinnati Bengals reacts during the NFL game between Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)