RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ending the team's hope that he could return to his starting spot this season.
Miller had what was described as minor ankle surgery back on Sept. 23, with the hope he could return in a few weeks. But Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Miller will need another surgery to repair the problem.
"It didn't respond the way we had hoped," Carroll said. "He's going to need some more things done. I talked to him this morning about it. He's pretty matter-of-fact about it. It's been a long process and he just wasn't close to getting back. The doctors were hoping to not have to do a really big surgery so he could get back this year. It just isn't that way. They'll have to do the final work and get him ready for next year."
The Seahawks re-signed rookie tight end RaShaun Allen on Tuesday to add depth at the position because backup tight ends Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet are banged up. Willson has a sprained ankle and his status for Sunday's game at Kansas City Chiefs is uncertain. Helfet has a bruised knee, but is expected to play. Seattle also signed veteran tight end Tony Moeaki last week.
"Tony has to step up now and jump right in there," Carroll said. "It's still really quick to have a guy step in and expect him to do everything, but he is a veteran and he's had a really good 10 days with us. We're counting on him to play."
Wednesday was the second consecutive day of disappointing news for the Seahawks, as starting nose tackle Brandon Mebane was placed on IR Tuesday with a torn hamstring.