Kick returner Darden adapting quickly to Seahawks

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 08: Jaelon Darden #1 of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)

RENTON, Wash. - Jaelon Darden didn't know the names of hardly any of his new teammates tasked to block for him as a kick returner in his first game with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The newly acquired Darden hadn't even been able to have a practice with the Seahawks after arriving Friday afternoon from Cleveland. Seattle had claimed Darden off waivers from the Browns and he didn't get into town in time to hit the field with the Seahawks before they traveled to Arizona.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity from the Seahawks," Darden said. "Definitely hectic dealing with my playing situation and things of that nature, but definitely had the mindset that I was playing and just making sure I came locked in when I did touch down in Seattle, to make sure I knew my job and the best way I could help the team, and that's what I did."

The Seahawks released Laviska Shenault Jr. and Dee Williams after the duo combined for three fumbles, losing two, in their win over the New York Jets two weeks ago.

"We've got to take care of the ball, man," head coach Mike Macdonald said last week. "Just got to take care of the ball. So, not excited about having to (make changes), but I felt like they were necessary."

Darden had just one kick return and one punt return for Seattle against the Cardinals. With 107 total kick and punt returns in the NFL over four seasons, Darden doesn't have a single fumble.

"All I know is work," Darden said. "So I mean, at the end of the day, that's my job. I'm just keep doing what I supposed to do, and that's catching the balls and getting the ball back to the quarterback."

Of course, the ball came free after Darden's only kickoff return on Sunday. However, Darden was clearly down before the ball was ripped free.

"Would've been great if Jaelon would've held onto the ball when he was down by contact, gave me a little scare," Macdonald said with a laugh Sunday night.

Darden said kick returns across the league are similar enough that it wasn't too difficult to adjust to his new team, even without any real practice time.

"I feel like all of that is the same. It's just knowing the situations and knowing what you need to do to help the team, and that's really it honestly," Darden said.

Special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh said they focused on the few differences and unique scenarios that could come up to expedite his learning curve to the team.

"An example would be going in punts, like coffin punts where you're trying to pin them deep. Different teams handle those different ways in terms of. ‘hey, what’s the deepest you're allowed to catch it, what's the decision-making process like?' Or let's say a really short punt that you're not going to field. What's the signal? What's the word you use for communication? There's things like that maybe vary slightly team to team. Those are the types of things you're trying to make sure situationally we're seeing it the same way," Harbaught said.

"He's mature, really football savvy and smart, and he's really into it. He takes his craft really seriously, so he's a guy that by the time he set foot here, he had a really good understanding of everything he was supposed to be doing."

Darden had been bouncing back-and-forth between the active roster and practice squad of the Browns all season. He appeared in six games for Cleveland as both a practice squad elevation, or during brief signings to the 53-man roster.

With the Seahawks overhauling their return units after the debacle in New York two weeks ago, Darden's availability on waivers gave them a proven option to turn to.

"Definitely they embraced me. I really appreciate that. Feel loved, feel welcome, now just on me to know what I supposed to do to help the team and just do my part," Darden said.

Injury Report: