When the Philadelphia Eagles released Josh Jobe at the end of the preseason, his NFL future was uncertain. He never imagined it would lead him across the country to become a regular contributor for the Seattle Seahawks. However, that’s precisely where he’ll be on Thursday night when the Seahawks face the Chicago Bears.
“This opportunity means a lot to me,” Jobe said on Tuesday. “Coming from the practice squad, elevated to play the game I love, I’m very blessed. I’m taking every advantage and just playing hard, doing whatever I need to for the team.”
Three days after his release from the Eagles, Seattle signed the former Alabama defensive back to their practice squad. Jobe made his 2024 debut as a practice-squad elevation on October 20th, contributing to a 34-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He played in the Seahawks’ next two games in the same capacity. Each NFL team can elevate two practice-squad members for each game, often for special teams or to fill injury gaps. Remarkably, Jobe started in his debut and accumulated 165 snaps across his three practice-squad elevation games. He even intercepted Josh Allen for a 33-yard return in the Seahawks’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on October 22nd.
Because a player can only be elevated three times a season, Seattle signed Jobe to their 53-man active roster on November 11th. He’s played in every game since, starting four, including the last three. “I’d say I’ve been playing well, getting to start and playing with the secondary,” Jobe commented. “I feel good, really good. But I still have more work to be done, and I need to keep getting better.”
Jobe’s journey is a testament to perseverance. He played in 11 regular-season games and Super Bowl LVII as an undrafted rookie for the Eagles in 2022, starting three games for Philadelphia last season. However, his August release forced him to fight his way back to Sunday football. Injuries at cornerback opened a door for him in Seattle, where he’s played in nickel packages as an outside corner alongside Riq Woolen, while Devon Witherspoon plays the slot.
“Coming from Philly to Seattle, I know how to work my way up,” Jobe explained. “I work on my craft, learn the playbook, and do what I do on the scout team to make my teammates better. Knowing your keys, your assignment, allows you to play fast. Knowing your opponents and their plays helps you play fast and communicate with your teammates.”
Jobe credits former Alabama coach Nick Saban for his success: “I was always a safety growing up,” he said. “But during recruiting, Coach Saban liked my physicality and skill set, so he wanted me at corner. I worked on my technique and just played.”
The Seahawks’ playoff hopes are hanging in the balance. Having lost their last two games to the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, they need to overtake the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. The Rams, with a 9-6 record, hold a one-game lead with two weeks remaining. A Seahawks loss to Chicago and a Rams win over the Arizona Cardinals would secure the division for Los Angeles. Even a Seattle win might not be enough, depending on other games’ outcomes. If Seattle avoids elimination this week, a crucial matchup against the Rams awaits on January 5th. Their November 3rd overtime loss to Los Angeles puts the Rams in a favorable position.
Seattle plays the Bears at 7:15 p.m. CST Thursday at Soldier Field in Chicago, televised on Prime Video. The Bears, on a nine-game losing streak, currently stand at 4-11.