Seahawks bringing back veteran DT Tony McDaniel
Aug 15, 2016, 4:34 PM | Updated: 4:53 pm
Tony McDaniel was a starter for the Seahawks in 2013 and 2014 then spent last season with Tampa Bay. AP)
RENTON – With injuries weakening their depth at defensive tackle, the Seahawks are bringing back veteran Tony McDaniel, a starter on both of their recent Super Bowl teams.
McDaniel and his agent announced that move on Monday.
McDaniel, 31, made 29 starts during his two seasons with Seattle, which signed him in 2013 to play the defensive-tackle position known as the three-technique after losing previous starter Alan Branch in free agency. McDaniel played that season on a one-year deal and then signed a two-year extension the next offseason. He was released last summer when the Seahawks needed to clear cap space after signing quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner to massive extensions.
Coach Pete Carroll said at the time: “It is a significant loss. Tony McDaniel has been a really good core player for us and we’ve really liked what he has brought to our club. This decision sucks but we had to something.”
McDaniel spent last season with Tampa Bay, starting three games and playing in 14.
His return comes as the Seahawks deal with a pair of injuries at defensive tackle, including one that has sidelined free-agent pickup Sealver Siliga for most of training camp. He practiced for the first time last week only to aggravate a different area of his previously injured calf, Carroll said, adding that it could be a couple of days or as long as a couple of weeks before Siliga returns. His comments Monday suggested Siliga will face an uphill battle for a roster spot whenever he returns.
“It’s been a really debilitating injury for him,” Carroll said of Siliga. “It’s just really hurt his chances of breaking in and helping us and all that. It’s going to be a really hard comeback for him once he gets back to us.”
Jordan Hill has also been sidelined for more than a week due to a groin injury, though Carroll said he’s “really close” to coming back.
McDaniel is back, and there’s an interesting story about how that happened. His agent, David Canter, shared the details on Twitter. He said he noticed McDaniel post a video on his Snapchat account saying he was at the airport and heading to Seattle. Canter then let the Seahawks know that McDaniel would be in town and encouraged them to take a look, which they did.
“Feels great to be back in Seattle!!!” McDaniel tweeted along with the hashtag “hawksnation.”
