Sept. 30, 2012; Kansas City, MO; Then-Chiefs tight end Tony Moeaki (81) catches a pass at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Recently signed Seattle Seahawks tight end Tony Moeaki returns Sunday to where his career began.
But Week 11 also offers Moeaki an opportunity to contribute against his former team at Arrowhead Stadium.
“He practiced really well last week and again today, so he’s off and running,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday evening during a conference call with Chiefs reporters. “He’s going to play for us this week and we’re happy to have him.”
The Chiefs under a former regime selected Moeaki out of Iowa in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Moeaki’s four seasons with the Chiefs were marred by injuries, and he spent two seasons on injured reserve. The first came in 2011 after Moeaki suffered a torn ACL tear with the second arriving in 2013 after he fractured a shoulder during preseason action.
The Chiefs waived Moeaki with an injury designation on Aug. 31, 2013 before placing him on injured reserve. Kansas City eventually released Moeaki on Oct. 22, 2013 after reaching an injury settlement.
He finished his time with the Chiefs appearing in 30 games with 29 starts, totaling 80 receptions for 1,009 yards and four touchdowns.
The Buffalo Bills signed Moeaki on Dec. 4, 2013 and he appeared in two games.
Moeaki suffered a hamstring injury in training camp, prompting the Bills to place him on injured reserve before the start of the 2014 regular season. The Bills and Moeaki reached an injury settlement on Sept. 1, leading to his signing with Seattle on Nov. 4.
Seattle placed starting tight end Zach Miller on injured reserve with an ankle injury. And the two players ahead of Moeaki on Seattle’s depth chart are also dealing with injuries.
Luke Wilson (knee) did not practice Wednesday and Cooper Helfet (knee) was limited.
The door is wide open for Moeaki to have extended playing time against the Chiefs, but how the Seahawks utilize him remains unknown.
“Well, you have to wait and see,” Carroll said. “This case you haven’t seen him yet, so you’ll have to wait and see.”
