Seahawks place Jeanpierre on season-ending IR, re-sign Bates

The Seahawks have placed backup center Lemuel Jeanpierre on season-ending injured reserve and re-signed wide receiver Phil Bates, the team announced Wednesday.

Jeanpierre didn’t practice this week due to an unspecified neck injury. In his absence, Stephen Schilling will be Seattle’s backup center, though he is primarily a guard.

Bates initially made Seattle’s 53-man roster but was waived two days later when the team signed fellow receiver Bryan Walters. Bates became a free agent after clearing waivers. His addition leaves the Seahawks with eight receivers on their active roster for Thursday’s season opener against Green Bay.

Seattle had the option of placing Jeanpierre on IR with a designation to return, but teams can only use that designation once a season.