Former Alabama tight end Robbie Ouzts won’t have a chance to help the Seattle Seahawks defend their Super Bowl title in 2026.
Ouzts, who was converted to fullback after he was selected by the Seahawks in the 5th round of the 2025 NFL Draft, was placed on season-ending injured reserve by Seattle on Tuesday afternoon.
According to Corbin K. Smith, who covers the Seahawks for Emerald City Spectrum, the Seahawks still don’t know the specifics of Ouzts’ injury. The second-year fullback who played at Alabama from 2021-24 missed playing time with a neck issue during Seattle’s run to a Super Bowl championship last season.
Ouzts also missed Weeks 4-7 last season with an ankle injury, but through the various ailments during his rookie season he did manage to make 2 starts among his 12 regular-season appearances.
But Ouzts’ injuries resurfaced during the first week of training camp in 2026. He missed consecutive practices in that first week, and after concern grew about Ouzts’ status going forward, Seattle was forced to pull the plug on its second-year player before the first preseason game was even played.
With Ouzts going on preseason injured reserve, it means he won’t have the opportunity to return this season from whatever injury caused Tuesday’s announcement.
The Seahawks filled Ouzts’ roster spot with the signing of inside linebacker Aaron Smith. With Ouzts’ absence creating a hole on Seattle’s depth chart, the defending champions signed former New England Patriot Brock Lampe last week. Lampe and Brady Russell are now the only fullbacks on the Seahawks’ current roster.
Ouzts was a solid piece for the Crimson Tide during his years in Tuscaloosa, finishing his collegiate career there with 16 catches for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
