RENTON, Wash. (AP)—The Seattle Seahawks surprisingly traded starting
cornerback Josh Wilson(notes) to the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday in exchange for a
conditional 2011 draft pick.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said they felt there was enough depth at the
position with Kelly Jennings(notes) and rookie Walter Thurmond(notes) that they could part
with Wilson.

“This was a team that was very aggressive in coming after Josh,” Seattle
general manager John Schneider said. “They were in a situation where they have
a strong need. It has more to do with how Walter has stepped up and how (Marcus
Trufant(notes)) is playing and some of the younger guys.”

The move came just as the Seahawks were wrapping up practice on Tuesday, a
practice that Wilson participated in before receiving word of the trade.

Wilson spent his first three seasons with the Seahawks after being a
second-round pick out of Maryland in 2007. Wilson started 23 of 28 games the
last two seasons and took both of his interceptions a year ago back for
touchdowns.

Wilson also has been a standout on special teams, averaging 27 and 25 yards
per kickoff return his first two years in the league.

Also playing a role in the deal was Wilson’s status as an unrestricted free
agent after this season. In Baltimore, he’ll fill a need created when cornerback
Domonique Foxworth(notes) tore up his knee during a pre-camp drill.

“With Josh in terms of the value it was at a level with him being an
unrestricted free agent after the season, it was at a point where we felt was
definitely fair,” Schneider said.

With Wilson gone, Carroll said Jennings will step into the starters role
opposite Trufant. Jennings, nicknamed “Slim” because of his slender 180-pound
frame, has started 29 of 64 games since being a first-round pick in 2006. But
his lack of weight has led to Jennings getting isolated against bigger receivers
in the past. He has just one interception in four season.

Thurmond will step into the fifth defensive back spot, less than a year
after a devastating knee injury that cost him most of his senior season at
Oregon. He’ll share some of his nickel duties with safety Jordan Babineaux(notes) and
Roy Lewis(notes). Running back Leon Washington(notes) will become the Seahawks primary kick
returner.

“Walter has had a great camp. He’s played beautifully,” Carroll said.
“He’s played almost more than anybody else so we’ve gotten a great look at him
and really excited about his contribution.”

SEATTLE (AP)—A Seahawks spokesman is confirming Seattle has been talking with
San Diego about acquiring holdout wide receiver Vincent Jackson(notes).

The spokesman told The Associated Press on Friday that the Seahawks were
granted permission by the Chargers to talk to the wide receiver a couple of
weeks ago.

Jackson has not reported to training camp because he is unhappy with being a
restricted free agent in San Diego. He wants a multiyear contract.

The Chargers and Seahawks would have to work out a trade to get Jackson that
deal.

Jackson is a Pro Bowler coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season. He
recently pleaded guilty to his second DUI since joining the NFL. He is suspended
for the first three regular-season games.

SEATTLE (AP)—A Seahawks spokesman is confirming Seattle has been talking with
San Diego about acquiring holdout wide receiver Vincent Jackson(notes).

The spokesman told The Associated Press on Friday that the Seahawks were
granted permission by the Chargers to talk to the wide receiver a couple of
weeks ago.

Jackson has not reported to training camp because he is unhappy with being a
restricted free agent in San Diego. He wants a multiyear contract.

The Chargers and Seahawks would have to work out a trade to get Jackson that
deal.

Jackson is a Pro Bowler coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season. He
recently pleaded guilty to his second DUI since joining the NFL. He is suspended
for the first three regular-season games.

RENTON, Wash. (AP)—The Seattle Seahawks traded defensive end and former
first-round pick Lawrence Jackson(notes) to the Detroit Lions on Wednesday for an
undisclosed draft choice in 2011.

A day after Jackson admitted he was in limbo in Seattle, the Seahawks
announced they had traded away their 28th overall selection in 2008. Seattle
general manager John Schneider was not on the job when the Seahawks drafted
Jackson out of Southern California.

Neither was Pete Carroll, Jackson’s former coach at USC, or the rest of
Seattle’s defensive staff. They are installing schemes that call for ends to be
run stuffers or fast pass rushers, and Jackson has so far proven to be neither.

Former tackle Red Bryant(notes) has moved his 335-plus pounds to end on one side of
the starting defense. Seattle traded this offseason with Philadelphia for former
part-time linebacker Chris Clemons to be its pass-rushing end, then acquired
315-pound defensive tackle and end Kentwan Balmer(notes) from San Francisco on Monday.

Jackson, who returned to practice Tuesday after missing a week with a bad
hamstring, sensed he lost his place in Seattle’s defense this summer. The
6-foot-4, 270-pounder was not big enough to be the run-stopping end and is not
yet enough of a proven pass rusher to become a specialist.

“I’m kind of in the middle of both extremes,” he said after Tuesday’s
practice. “Everything is still up in the air right now.”

Not anymore. He’s headed to the Lions, cast off for a draft pick as Carroll
and Schneider continue to turn over half of Seattle’s roster since January.

The pick Seattle is getting from Detroit is likely in the same low round
next year as the one the Seahawks had just lost to the 49ers to get Balmer, who
was drafted one choice behind Jackson in 2008.

Jackson started 24 of 31 games in his two seasons with Seattle. He had a
career-high 4 1/2 sacks last season.

“Detroit showed strong interest in Lawrence and this provides him an
opportunity to move forward while he is still early in his career,” Schneider
said. “We wish him the best.”