The Seattle Seahawks are beginning to make a serious run at the postseason, but losing one of their top targets will make that effort a little tougher. The Seahawks finally began to get their offense rolling thanks to the arm of Russell Wilson. While Jimmy Graham was on his way to a disappointing 2015 season, he commanded the presence of the defense and now the Seahawks are trying to replace his hole on the field.
According to the Seattle Seahawks official website, the team has signed veteran tight end Chase Coffman who was originally with the Tennessee Titans before getting released in October. Coffman saw just one game of action with the Titans where he recorded four catches for 42 yards. It is unclear just how much the Seahawks see Coffman as a potential help on the field. With five games in the regular season and the playoffs on the line, Seattle needs as many healthy bodies as they can get. Coffman is a veteran who could adjust and help quickly.
With Graham out, Luke Willson sits at the top of the depth chart. Graham has officially been placed on injured reserve meaning Wilson is the best option the Seahawks have. The tight end certainly has plenty of experience. He filled in for Zach Miller last year and now he is taking over for Graham. While he might not be the flashy choice on the field, he has big plays to his resume and the trust of the coaching staff.
"Luke's got plenty of confidence. He's a vet now, he's been around," Carroll said, via the News Tribune. "There's nothing that's going to surprise him now. He's really in the groove of it and he's ready to go. That was evidenced by he jumped right up to make a play the next snap, and away he goes. He'll be fine."
Willson becomes an immediate fantasy starter for owners as he will be the top tight end option moving forward. Doug Baldwin remains another. The wide receiver is quietly having his most productive season to date and will be relied upon heavily with Graham gone. The receiver's numbers are warranting a lot more attention from the defense heading into the final stretch of the year, but Baldwin is making sure he is focused on avoiding mistakes and being productive.
"Obviously we'll miss Jimmy, but we have guys behind him who have been making plays, who can make plays," Baldwin said, via the Seattle Times. "Jimmy is a dynamic weapon in our offense that we haven't seen before in this offense until this year, but I have the utmost faith in Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet and the rest of our receiving corps to continue doing what we've been doing."
A lot of people have written the Seahawks off with injuries to Marshawn Lynch and Graham, but the team is proving their depth is enough. Thomas Rawls is thriving as the starting running back while Baldwin along with Jermaine Kearse remain top targets for Wilson to keep involved and heading to the endzone.
