John Schneider and Mike Macdonald are not finished tinkering with the back end of their roster, but the Seahawks seem about 95% set for the season opener against the 49ers on Sept. 7.

They went heavy on tight ends and fullbacks (six) and light on nose tackles and linebackers – although they are using the practice squad to maximum effect at those spots and also reportedly added a linebacker from the 49ers.

Let’s take a look at all the key moves the Seattle bosses have made this week, what Schneider said and what might be coming next …

 Quarterback

The roster: Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe.

What’s notable: Milroe will get packages that take advantage of his skills, Macdonald said. One cool way to use him would be to line him up in the backfield with another back, pitch to him and have him do an RPO or a backside pass. It would not be surprising to see him used as a decoy as well, setting up some big plays.

Running back

The roster: Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, George Holani, Robbie Ouzts, Brady Russell.

What’s notable: The big question is whether Walker or Charbonnet starts and what the split turns out to be. Early on, we bet Charbs will get more playing time as Macdonald paces the fragile Walker. … Meanwhile, it will be very fun to see how Ouzts is used and how much he helps the running game (early returns say it will be a lot).

Wide receiver

The roster: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton, Dareke Young, Cody White, Jake Bobo.

What’s notable: The Hawks went with Young and White over the veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who signed with the 49ers and thus will face Seattle in Week 1.

“There’s a cool physicality with Bobo and Dareke and Cody,” Schneider said. “That’s really important. In this scheme you have to be able to block, so we like the group.”

Schneider also confirmed that Horton made MVS expendable and defended the $3 million in guaranteed money the Hawks gave MVS: “He was a very good signing for us at the time. We added Tory in the draft, a guy that can kind of take the top off — and that’s MVS’s specialty, so very similar in that regard.”

Tight end

The roster: AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo, Eric Saubert, Nick Kallerup.

 What’s notable: Kallerup surprisingly became the sixth fullback/tight end, on the strength of a good blocking performance in the preseason. The Hawks clearly want him around and were worried he might get claimed if they waived him. As Schneider said, “Who’s going to be able to get through waivers? And how (do) you navigate this initial wave when everybody’s setting their rosters?”

Offensive line

The roster: Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, Abraham Lucas, Olu Oluwatimi, Josh Jones, Mason Richman, Bryce Cabeldue.

What’s notable: The top seven were a foregone conclusion. The Hawks traded Michael Jerrell to Atlanta for a conditional 7 and put Christian Haynes (pec) on IR. Those two moves made room for Richman and Cabeldue, but that does not mean their spots are etched in stone. The Hawks reportedly had some interest in veteran Dalton Risner, but he reportedly is signing with Cincinnati.

Schneider likes the line much better in the “legitimate system” of Klint Kubiak and John Benton: “I think you’ve seen a lot of growth within the group. … Like every other position, we’re going to keep trying to work it. We’ll be looking at practice squads, looking at tryout guys, trades, whatever we have to do — we’ll be continuing to work that position. But this group in particular, that’s here right now, they’re doing a really nice job.”

Defensive line

The roster: Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy II, DeMarcus Lawrence, Mike Morris.

What’s notable: On the surface, it appears as though the Hawks have no nose tackles. Johnathan Hankins is on NFI and will miss at least the first four games, and Quinton Bohanna and Brandon Pili both were put on the practice squad. But each of those guys can be pulled up twice, so the Hawks conceivably could rotate them and have a nose available for the four games Hankins might miss.

“We’re really excited that Bo and Pili are back,” Schneider said, confirming one of them could be active in the opener against the 49ers.

It won’t be any kind of surprise if Schneider makes a trade for a nose tackle. It has been a team need for several years running.

Outside linebacker

The roster: Derick Hall, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu, Jared Ivey, Connor O’Toole.

What’s notable: The Hawks kept two UDFAs to go with the expected veterans. They clearly thought O’Toole would be claimed, based on his preseason pass rush success. So he was a surprise keeper. Ivey was considered a possible keeper and ended up making it, too. As Schneider said of Ivey, O’Toole and Kallerup: “They all did things that really stood out on film, and we had a vibe that we may not get guys through (waivers).”

Inside linebacker

The roster: Ernest Jones IV, Tyrice Knight, Drake Thomas, Chazz Surratt.

What’s notable: The Hawks apparently preferred Surratt (cut by the 49ers) over Patrick O’Connell, who moved to the P-squad. Surratt was a third-round pick by Minnesota in 2021. Schneider said, “Drake and Patty-O did a great job in the preseason. We wanted to add to the group. We will. We’ll continue to be working at that position.”

Safety

The roster: Julian Love, Coby Bryant, Nick Emmanwori, Ty Okada.

What’s notable: The Hawks kept both D’Anthony Bell and Okada initially, but then Bell was cut for Surratt. Okada had a great preseason and earned a roster spot for the first time in his three camps with Seattle.

Cornerback

The roster: Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe, Nehemiah Pritchett, Derion Kendrick.

What’s notable: Kendrick was claimed from the Rams to replace Shaquill Griffin. Kendrick, a 2022 sixth-round pick who has made 18 starts, is coming off an ACL injury that cost him 2024. Schneider said, “He’s a competitor. Really nice mover. Really good ball skills. Came back from his ACL strong. We thought he had a very nice preseason.”

Griffin reportedly is joining the P-squad, which will give him time to get back into game shape after missing most of the preseason.

Special teams

The roster: Jason Myers, Michael Dickson, Chris Stoll.

What’s notable: Stoll is coming back from a back problem that had the Hawks using Zach Triner in the preseason.