Backfilling their thinnest positions Monday, the Seahawks added a cornerback and an offensive tackle to the 53-man roster and placed CB Jeremy Lane on the injured reserve list, but he is designated to return this season. Lane re-injured a groin muscle Thursday in the season-opening win over Green Bay.
Lane can begin practicing in six weeks and return to the Seahawks in eight. The Seahawks used the same designation on OT Russell Okung last year. Since the Seahawks have a bye in Week 4, Lane will probably be eligible to return to action Nov. 9 against the New York Giants.
Four-year veteran CB Josh Thomas played in 38 games with 10 starts in three seasons for Carolina, with 64 tackles (49 solo), one interception and nine passes defensed, before being released Aug. 30. He is the second veteran player added since cutdown day. The Seahawks traded a sixth-round draft choice to Indianapolis for CB Marcus Burley.
Thomas was drafted in 2011 by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (143rd overall), but was released after training camp and claimed off waivers by Carolina, where he spent the past three seasons. Last season, Thomas played in 13 games with six starts, collecting 28 tackles (21 solo) and one interception. He was the defender beaten by Jermaine Kearse in Seattle’s 12-7 win at Carolina.
OT Andrew McDonald was added to the 53-man active roster, filling the spot created by the release over the weekend of WR Phil Bates. McDonald gives the Seahawks nine offensive linemen again, after C Lemuel Jeanpierre was put on injured reserve one week ago with a neck problem.
A graduate of the University of Indiana, McDonald signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2012 and spent that season on the club’s practice squad. He was released and spent the 2013 season on the Carolina Panthers practice squad as well as the first week of the 2014 season.
McDonald was identified in the Wells Report in 2013 as “Player A,” one of the players bullied by Richie Incognito and other members of the Miami Dolphins.
The Seahawks also released G David Arkin and safety FS Josh Aubrey from the practice squad, and signed training campers G Nate Isles and FS Terrance Parks to replace them.
The 22-year-old Isles attended North Carolina A&T and was cut by the Seahawks prior to the regular season, as was Parks, who played his college football at Florida State. He spent the 2012 season with the Kansas City Chiefs and the 2013 season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League before joining Seattle for training camp.
The Seahawks (1-0) play their second regular-season game at 1 p.m. Sunday at San Diego (FOX). They return to CenturyLink Field Sept. 21 to face the Denver Broncos.