Seahawks sign LS Tyler Ott, place Nolan Frese on Injured Reserve

RENTON – The Seahawks have a new long-snapper. No, it’s not Clint Gresham.

Seattle instead signed free agent Tyler Ott on Tuesday and placed Nolan Frese on Injured Reserve because of a sprained ankle that would have prevented him from playing Saturday in the team’s wild-card game against Detroit.

Ott, 24, had a workout with Seattle before the season. He played in three games earlier this year with Cincinnati and one game late last season with the Giants. He’s listed at 6 foot 3 and 253 pounds and went undrafted in 2014 out of Harvard, where he also played tight.

Ott is practicing with the team Tuesday.

“Tyler’s played in games this year and he’s done well,” coach Pete Carroll said. “His numbers are right as far as his temp getting the ball back. He’s a good-sized kid. He looks good. We’re going for it like we’re not even going to think twice about it.”

Excited to be a part of the @Seahawks as we make a run for the Super Bowl! #GoHawks

— Tyler Ott (@tylerott82) January 3, 2017

Frese suffered what Carroll called a high-ankle sprain in the first quarter of Sunday’s regular-season finale against San Francisco. He finished the game, which was admirable given the severity of the injury. He also sent a third-quarter snap well over the head of punter Jon Ryan for a safety, which was the latest miscue for a Seahawks kicking unit that has had quite a few of them both in the last couple weeks and throughout the season.

Frese’s snaps haven’t been the only issue – Stephen Hauschka’s trajectory has been another – but they’ve inconsistent dating back to the preseason, when he was the third long-snapper Seattle had tried out after releasing Gresham in March.

That Ott he was the Seahawks’ choice to replace Frese may be a surprise to some considering Gresham was still available. But for whatever reason, that ship appeared to have sailed long ago. Seattle’s decision to sign Ott instead confirms as much.

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