Tony Moeaki providing a boost to Seahawks’ passing game

Tight end Tony Moeaki was in the Thanksgiving spirit after Seattle’s 19-3 win over San Francisco Thursday night.

“I’m so grateful for this organization, the GM, head coach, everyone,” he told the postgame show on 710 ESPN Seattle. “I’m just glad to be here.”

The Seahawks must be awfully glad to have him, too, given the spark he’s provided to their slumping passing game. Seattle signed Moeaki off the streets earlier this month, and after being inactive for his first game with the Seahawks he’s made an impact in each of the three games since.

He caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in Kansas City then led Seattle with four catches a week later against Arizona. On Thursday night, Moeaki made a 63-yard catch and run in which he came up just short of the end zone. That produced more yards than any Seahawks receiver finished with Thursday, and it stands as Seattle’s longest play from scrimmage this season.

Not bad for a guy that had been out of a job for two months between the time he was released with an injury settlement by Buffalo to when he signed with Seattle in early November. The Seahawks were thin at tight end at the time, with starter Zach Miller out with a bum ankle that would later land him on injured reserve.

“That’s another guy that has really stepped up for us,” quarterback Russell Wilson said, referring to Moeaki. “To think about Zach Miller going out and the guy is a great football player. Big, fundamental, and to have Moeaki come to our team a couple weeks ago and play at such a high level and make it look so easy, and the relationship that we have, it’s pretty cool and pretty special to see.”

With that relationship only a month old, perhaps the rapport between Wilson and Moeaki will grow stronger over the final four weeks of the regular season.

“It just takes time, practice,” Moeaki said. “I still need to improve and I’m conscious of that. I’m just happy to be playing for this team, and I love these guys.”