Seahawks to re-sign Tani Tupou; L.J. McCray trade reportedly off
Sep 5, 2016, 11:50 AM | Updated: 1:50 pm
Taniela Tupou, an undrafted rookie from Washington, has played fullback and defensive tackle for Seattle. (AP)
(AP)
The Seahawks plan to re-sign former Husky Taniela Tupou to play fullback, according to a source. Seattle has a spot open on its 53-man roster now that the trade for safety L.J. McCray has fallen through due to a failed physical, according to multiple reports.
McCray was one of two safeties the Seahawks acquired Saturday while setting their initial 53-man roster along with Dewey McDonald from Oakland. Seattle sent what was reportedly a conditional seventh-round pick in 2018 to the 49ers for McCray, but that trade was subject to him passing a physical. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network was the first among several others to report Monday that McCray failed that physical. He will revert back to San Francisco and could be waived, which would allow the Seahawks or any other team to claim him with no compensation.
McCray, 25, missed half of last season after tearing his ACL.
The Seahawks waived Tupou and released veteran Will Tukuafu on Saturday, which left Seattle without a fullback on its 53-man roster heading into the first week of the regular season. As previously noted, Seattle could bring back Tukuafu after Week 1, at which point the salaries for vested veterans are no longer fully guaranteed.
Tupou, who went to Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, played defensive tackle at the University of Washington. He signed with Seattle as an undrafted rookie free agent and played both defensive tackle and fullback over the offseason. He will become the 15th rookie on Seattle’s 53-man roster and the seventh who was undrafted.
The moves with Tupou and McCray are another reminder that initial 53-man rosters are subject to immediate change. Seattle also made a swap of defensive tackles on Sunday, waiving Justin Hamilton and claiming former 49er Garrison Smith.
Update: the Seahawks announced Monday afternoon that they have re-signed Tupou and that the McCray trade has been voided. The team also announced the signing of eight players to its practice squad: wide receivers Kasen Williams, Kenny Lawler, Rodney Smith and Marcus Lucas; guard Will Pericak, linebackers Kache Palacio and Jordan Tripp; and defensive end Tylor Harris. All except Smith, Lucas and Tripp were with Seattle during the offseason. The Seahawks also waived defensive ends David Perkins and Josh Shirley from Injured Reserve.
