The Seahawks are placing veteran tight end Zach Miller on injured reserve, ending his season, head coach Pete Carroll confirmed today to reporters, including Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Miller underwent a procedure on his ankle following the team’s Week 3 game and has been sidelined since then, despite remaining on the active roster until now. He’ll have to undergo a second surgery, Carroll indicated today.
Miller, a former Pro Bowler, has been with the Seahawks since 2011, catching 102 balls over that span and serving as the club’s top tight end. He accepted a pay cut earlier this year, restructuring his deal to reduce his 2014 and 2015 base salaries. While that move saved his roster spot this season, it’s not clear whether he remains in Seattle’s plans beyond this year.
In Miller’s absence, Luke Willson, Cooper Helfet, and Tony Moeaki have been the Seahawks’ primary tight ends, and Carroll singled out Moeaki today as a player who will have to step up now that the club’s starting tight end is out for the year (Twitter link via Condotta).
The Seahawks already added another tight end to the roster earlier this week, signing Rashaun Allen from off the Vikings’ practice squad. So to replace Miller, the team has gone another direction, poaching a player from another club’s practice squad — per Condotta (via Twitter), Carroll said today that Seattle has signed linebacker Allen Bradford, who had been on the Browns’ practice squad for the majority of the season.