Seahawks sign TE Chase Coffman, waive Drew Nowak
Dec 1, 2015, 4:02 PM | Updated: 5:55 pm
Chase Coffman, 29, has played for four teams since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2009. (AP)
(AP)
BY
Former Seattle Sports Lead Editor
Drew Nowak lost his job as the Seahawks’ starting center several weeks ago. On Tuesday, he lost his spot on Seattle’s roster as the team waived him in order to sign free-agent tight end Chase Coffman.
The Seahawks were expected to add a tight end this week after losing starter Jimmy Graham to a season-ending knee injury on Sunday. Coffman was their choice over other available options, which included former Seahawks Anthony McCoy (unsigned) and RaShaun Allen (New Orleans’ practice squad).
Coffman, 29, has caught one touchdown pass and spent time with four teams since entering the NFL as a third-round pick by Cincinnati in 2009. He appeared in one game this season for Tennessee, catching four passes for 4 yards, before he was released on Oct. 31. Coffman is listed at 6 feet 6 and 250 pounds.
He and Cooper Helfet will presumably serve as Seattle’s backup tight ends as Luke Willson assumes Graham’s role as the starter.
Seattle’s decision to part ways with Nowak isn’t a surprise considering he had not only lost his starting job to Patrick Lewis but had dropped to third on the depth chart behind Lemuel Jeanpierre and was inactive for the last three games.
Nowak began the season as Seattle’s starter but was benched in Week 6 in favor of Lewis, a move coach Pete Carroll recently admitted he wished had been made earlier. Nowak made two more starts while Lewis was sidelined with an ankle injury but returned to the bench once Lewis was healthy.
The Seahawks also made a pair of practice-squad moves on Tuesday. The team signed wide receiver Deshon Foxx and defensive tackle Justin Hamilton and released defensive end Julius Warmsley.
