Looks like Chris Matthews is going to become a one-game wonder after all. The Seahawks confirmed a Pro Football Talk report Tuesday that they have waived the wide receiver who lit up the Super Bowl in February by coming out of nowhere to make four catches for 109 yards in Seattle’s 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots. Matthews caught four passes this season, rarely seeing the field on offense.
The Seahawks replaced him by elevating former Washington Huskies receiver Kevin Smith off the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Smith, 6-0 and 213 pounds, is likely to be part of the solution in replacing on special teams star Ricardo Lockette, lost for the season after a neck injury that required surgery following the win over Dallas.
In his senior season at UW in 2013, Smith had a team-high 765 receiving yards on 50 catches with four receiving TDs. In his career, he played in 47 games with 72 receptions for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns, while also returning 62 kicks for 1,445 yards.
The Seahawks signed Matthews as a free agent Feb. 18, 2014 from the Canadian Football League. Released after training camp and then re-signed to the practice squad Oct. 29, Matthews joined the active roster Dec. 6. Before his breakout game against the Patriots, he caught four passes for 54 yards. His first catch in the Super Bowl went for 44 yards and led to a Seattle touchdown.
In the NFC Championship against Green Bay, Matthews recovered an onside kick that helped the Seahawks tie the game and force overtime.
Matthews has done little since. Among his catches this season wasa 21-yarder against Detroit Oct. 5. Matthews’ last reception was a 12-yarder against Carolina.
The 6-foot-5, 218-pounder from Los Angeles played college football at the University of Kentucky and went undrafted.
Meanwhile, WR Paul Richardson, who made his season debut last Sunday against Arizona after coming off the PUP list, exited after six plays after a hamstring injury of unknown severity. His status for the game against the 49ers Sunday has yet to be determined. If Richardson can’t play Sunday, Smith likely will be activated to replace him.
Notes
The Dallas Cowboys Tuesday cut former Seahawks running back Christine Michael for “playing and locker room” reasons. The Seahawks drafted Michael in the second round in 2013 out of Texas A&M. After Michael failed to develop, the Seahawks traded him to Dallas Sept. 6 for a conditional seventh-round pick. Michael appeared in five games for Dallas and rushed for 51 yards.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2211586 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2211586">7 Comments
What’s the problem? He can’t groove with Russell or he refuses to become a Mormon?
The numbers don’t show it but the WR corps is deep on this team. A bit surprised at this action though I had noticed that Matthews isn’t getting many targets. Wonder what Pete saw that made him pull the trigger on this.
I like Kevin Smith, but I’m very sorry to see Chris Mathews depart. I wonder if they could have put him on the practice squad, where Smith came from. Needless to say, as an outsider I have no idea what Pete’s reasoning is, but it appears that the Hawks weren’t willing to work with Mathews to develop the consistency and performance they are looking for. He proved he has it in him in the Super Bowl. At 6’5″ and 218 lbs., I strongly suspect he will be grabbed up quickly by another team and might well come back to sting the Hawks.
Bet the Patriots pick him up.
Ya like he’s even remotely the reason these overpaid overhyped players stunk up the field against every decent team they played this year