Former Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans was out of sight and largely out of mind since being released by the Saints. His August arrival in Seattle has provided another jolt of confidence and optimism for a team that has managed to accomplish plenty in recent years without top-level offensive-line talent.
In Evans, they may have gotten a steal. Evans thinks they did.
“I feel great, I still feel like I’m a top guard in this league if not the best,” Evans told reporters. “I’m just going out there to work hard and just show it on the field really. The eye in the sky doesn’t lie. I’ve been asked to do a lot of things in New Orleans that I probably won’t be asked to do here, that’s a little bit different but I’m just looking to go out there and work hard.”
Evans attributed a perceived dip in his performance last year to an injury suffered in September.
“I played pretty good, I took a hit the second week of the season, it altered my season a little bit,” Evans said. “But I bounced back, I was able to come back and get back out there with the guys. I just got dinged up a few times, it was just unfortunate but I think I played well.”
Evans nevertheless admitted he was “a little bit” surprised by the lack of interest, which manifested itself in only “a few visits” and “a few phone calls.” Still Evans wanted a good fit, and he thinks he found it in Seattle -- even if he’ll be moving from right guard to left guard.
“It’s a little weird, but at the end of the day it’s football,” Evans said. “It’s contact every play so I just have to settle my feet down and keep working at it.”
If it works out for the Seahawks, the offense could be even better in 2016.