Seattle Seahawks sign two tight ends despite decreasing depth
The Seattle Seahawks have signed tight ends Michael Ezeike and Devon Garrison to strengthen their position ahead of the third and final preseason game, the team announced Monday.
Two undrafted rookies were released to make room on the 90-man roster: linebacker Devin Richardson and cornerback Willie Roberts. Both had fewer than 10 snaps on defense in two preseason games, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ezeike went undrafted out of UCLA in 2023 and spent his rookie training camp with the Los Angeles Chargers before being released. He also spent time with the UFL’s Memphis Showboats before the 2024 spring season but did not make the roster.
Garrison, an undrafted rookie out of Pittsburgh State (NCAA Division II), is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound tight end who caught 53 passes for 855 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2023. In four collegiate seasons, Garrison totaled 97 catches for 1,581 yards and 15 touchdowns. He participated in rookie minicamps with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
The signing of two new tight ends paints a poor picture of the prospects for veteran Pharaoh Brown (who signed a one-year, $3.2 million contract in the offseason) and undrafted rookie Jack Westover, who is currently injured.
Brown suffered what appeared to be a knee injury during the Seahawks’ second joint practice with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, August 15, but head coach Mike Macdonald later said it was a foot injury. The team has not released any details since then.
Westover did not play in the preseason loss to the Titans on Saturday, August 17, and Macdonald said he has a hamstring injury of unknown severity.
Before signing Ezeike and Garrison, Seattle was limited to three healthy tight ends on its 90-man roster behind starter Noah Fant, who has battled injuries of his own throughout training camp: Brady Russell, Tyler Mabry and rookie fourth-round pick AJ Barner. All three have played at least 40 snaps in two preseason games, according to PFF.
Even though the two new additions are just practice players while Seattle’s other tight ends get healthy, it is a much-needed step for the team.
