Seahawks add TE Tony Moeaki, re-sign WR Bryan Walters

Missing starting tight end Zach Miller for the last five games and in all likelihood at least a few more, the Seahawks have added a reinforcement.

Seattle signed former Chief Tony Moeaki, announcing the move on Tuesday along with several others, including the re-signing of wide receiver/kick returner Bryan Walters. To make room on their 53-man roster, the Seahawks released linebacker E.J. Fort and waived safety Terrance Parks after reaching an injury settlement.

Moeaki, 27, was once a promising rookie who caught 47 passes in 2010 with Kansas City, which had drafted him in the third round out. Four years, two teams and several injuries later, he’s a Seahawk.

Seattle has been without Miller for over a month following ankle surgery. Coach Pete Carroll said Miller’s rehab has yet to reach the point where he’s running on the ground, an indication that he’s likely still at least a few weeks from returning.

Moeaki was a productive receiving threat during the two seasons he was healthy in Kansas City, catching a combined 80 passes in 2010 and 2012. But he missed the 2011 season after tearing his ACL and was waived with an injury designation after fracturing his shoulder during the 2013 preseason. Moeaki appeared in two games with Buffalo last season and hasn’t played since then.

Walters, meanwhile, was released last weekend when the the Seahawks promoted Parks from the practice squad, needing safety depth with starter Kam Chancellor and his backup, Jeron Johnson, both dealing with injuries.

Walters will presumably resume his role as Seattle’s punt returner. At least that was the impression that Carroll left on Monday when he hinted that the team was going to make a move to add a punt returner, that in response to a question about whether Doug Baldwin will continue handling those duties after doing so against Oakland.

Baldwin returned one punt 38 yards to give Seattle a short field for a drive that ended in a field goal. But he also fielded another at Seattle’s 4-yard line and ended up losing 2 yards on the return.

“We did OK,” Carroll said. “You saw Doug made a decision backed up that I think we’d like to do otherwise. So he’s still learning and we’ll figure that out. We’ll see what happens this week. You’ll see some things that occur here during the week. Foreshadowing.”

Notes

• TE Brett Brackett and WR Chris Matthews were released from Seattle’s practice squad. S Dion Bailey and WR Jalen Saunders took their place.

• Rookie CB Eric Pinkins will remain on the reserve/non-football injury list, which ends his season.

• Seattle will have to make an additional roster move to clear a spot for CB Jeremy Lane, who is eligible to play Sunday after missing the requisite eight weeks while on short-term injured reserve.