Seahawks’ Brandon Mebane done for season with torn hamstring
Nov 11, 2014, 11:07 AM | Updated: 5:43 pm
BY
Former Seattle Sports Lead Editor
What has maybe been the best season of Brandon Mebane’s eight-year career has come to a premature end.
The Seahawks announced Tuesday that the run-stuffing defensive tackle has been placed on injured reserve, confirming earlier reports that he would not return this season after tearing his hamstring in Sunday’s game against the Giants. Tight end RaShaun Allen was signed off Minnesota’s practice squad to take Mebane’s spot on the 53-man roster.
It’s a tough break for Mebane, who was having a standout season at age 29. That’s saying something considering how often players at that position are overlooked.
It’s a big loss for the Seahawks, who were hoping Mebane could return but will instead have to navigate a brutal finishing stretch without one of their best players, an unsung hero who does a great deal of dirty work for the league’s fourth-ranked run defense.
For all the injuries Seattle has dealt with over the first nine games, fullback Derrick Coleman is the only starter who has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. Until now.
Where do the Seahawks go from here? Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Seattle would look to fill Mebane’s role from within – with Kevin Williams playing more snaps and Tony McDaniel and Jordan Hill also seeing increased roles – but that the team was also going to look for outside help.
“There’s nobody like Mebane. He’s a very unique player,” Carroll said. “He’s had I think the best season he’s had since we’ve been here to this point … That’s a big hit to take, but our guys that go in play good football, too, so we’ll expect them to play up and maintain the level.”
According to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, the Seahawks are working out Michael Brooks, who spent last season on Seattle’s practice squad and appeared in one game. That was in Week 10 against Atlanta, when defensive end Red Bryant was out with a concussion.
Allen was with Seattle earlier this season, appearing against St. Louis in between stints on the Seahawks’ practice squad.
Seattle now has five tight ends on its 53-man roster, which could be considered a surplus if that group wasn’t so banged up. Starter Zach Miller will miss his seventh straight game following ankle surgery while his replacement, Luke Willson, could be out Sunday as well due to a sprained ankle. Cooper Helfet has been nursing a sore knee. Tony Moeaki, who was signed last week, is Seattle’s other tight end.
