Seahawks sign vet Winston

RENTON, Wash. – When the Seattle Seahawks lost their starting right tackle in free agency during the offseason, the contingency plan seemed straightforward.

After seeing significant playing time as a rookie, Michael Bowie would get first crack at stepping in for Breno Giacomini.

To add depth, Seattle spent a second-round draft pick on Justin Britt out of Missouri with the intent on having him compete with Bowie for the starting job.

That still might be the final scenario. But the signing of veteran right tackle Eric Winston on Tuesday would indicate the situation is unsettled.

“Just looking for depth and a competitive guy to come in that spot,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “We like the fact he’s got background and experience.”

And there might be a need at that position as well. Bowie has been slowed by a shoulder injury suffered on the first day of camp, although he’s expected to practice later this week. Britt has looked like a rookie and struggled on Tuesday as he was matched up against starting defensive end Cliff Avril.

Enter Winston, the current NFLPA president. Entering his ninth season, Winston has started 119 consecutive games and has the experience advantage over Bowie and Britt. He’s also played in zone-blocking systems in the past and is familiar with what the Seahawks are trying to teach.

“I’ve been searching for the right situation and I wanted to go somewhere that you can win,” Winston said. “When they called I know they’re definitely capable of winning here and winning big so it was very exciting to think that I would get a chance to play in some games I’ve never played in before and have a chance of doing that.”

Winston played last season for Arizona so he saw the Seahawks up close twice. He was part of the only team to beat the Seahawks in Seattle in the past two seasons when Arizona won 17-13 in Week 16 last December.

The upside for Seattle if either Britt or Winston can prove capable of starting at the position is the versatility of Bowie.

Last season, Bowie started at both guard and tackle at various times and along with second-year lineman Alvin Bailey gives the Seahawks pieces to mix and match across the line whether for matchups or because of injury.

Notes

RB Marshawn Lynch continued his holdout on Tuesday and could be facing additional fines from the team related to his signing bonus for the holdout reaching six days. “It’s one of those deals you can never get inside somebody’s head,” Seattle general manager John Schneider said in an interview with ESPN during its broadcast. … In addition to Winston, the Seahawks added CB Terrell Thomas and WR Randall Carroll. Seattle waived/injured WR Taylor Price and cut OL Bronson Irwin and CB Chandler Fenner to clear the roster spots.