The Seahawks continued their roster tweaks Sunday by claiming DT Garrison Smith off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers.
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Used to be IR meant the end of those players’ seasons.
Burley was a Seahawk the last two years but battled a hamstring injury late in the preseason and was waived by the Seahawks as injured.
The initial regular-season roster includes 14 rookies, including eight of the team’s 2016 draft picks and six undrafted free agents (including backup quarterback Trevone Boykin, receiver Tanner McEvoy, safety Tyvis Powell and snapper Nolan Frese).
Smith, expected to help fill a void left by the Saturday cuts of DTs Jordan Hill and Sealver Siliga, is the second 49er to join the Seahawks in two days.
Hill was a third-round pick in 2013 and had a key role as an inside rusher in the team’s nickel package. That doesn’t sound like an injury that would keep Hill out for an entire season, but perhaps about half of it. Other players released by Seattle included wide receiver Kasen Williams, defensive tackle Brandin Bryant, defensive back Tye Smith, running back Troymaine Pope and wide receiver Kenny Lawler, a seventh-round pick this year. That’s the position Brandon Mebane had for nine years with Seattle until March, when he signed as a free agent with San Diego. Smith, 24, signed as a rookie free agent with the Miami Dolphins following the 2014 National Football League draft before spending this offseason/preseason with the 49ers.
The Seahawks can now begin assembling their 10-man practice squad and it will likely be composed largely of the players the team waived on Saturday.
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The former Washington Husky started there last season, then played the final seven regular-season games and both playoff games for the Seahawks.
