Seahawks make final cuts, trade for DT Smith
Aug 31, 2013, 4:45 PM | Updated: 4:48 pm
By Brent Stecker
The Seahawks announced their final cuts to get to a roster of 53 Saturday, and they also addressed depth concerns on the defensive line.
Seattle cut or released 22 players, and it also announced the acquisition of defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith from the Jacksonville Jaguars for an undisclosed future draft choice, pending a physical.
 The Seahawks traded a future draft pick to the Jaguars for DT D’Anthony Smith on Saturday. Smith made 10 tackles in eight games last season. (AP) |
To get the roster down to 53 players, the Seahawks terminated the contracts of veterans DT Clinton McDonald, FB Michael Robinson, QB Brady Quinn and CB Antoine Winfield. Robinson broke the news of his release Friday on his Twitter account, and former Pro Bowler Winfield, 36, will announce his retirement, which Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed in a tweet. Quinn’s release means the Seahawks will start the season with just two quarterbacks — starter Russell Wilson and backup Tarvaris Jackson.
The Seahawks also waived the following players: WR Phil Bates, DT Michael Brooks, DT Dewayne Cherrington, WR Arceto Clark, TE Darren Fells, DB Winston Guy, WR Chris Harper, TE Cooper Helfet, DT Jaye Howard, G Rishaw Johnson, TE Sean McGrath, DB Ron Parker, LB Ty Powell, G Ryan Seymour, DB DeShawn Shead, DT Sealver Siliga, G Jared Smith, and WR Bryan Walters.
Additionally, Seattle announced it will keep injured defensive end Chris Clemons, who is rehabbing a torn ACL and meniscus, on the active roster. Clemons won’t be ready to return early in the season, which may have prompted the trade for Smith.
Smith was a third-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, and he registered 10 tackles (six solo) in eight games in 2012. He has struggled to stay healthy, however, missing the entirety of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and hitting the injured reserve last season with a head injury on November 28, 2012.
