With All-Pro returner Tyler Lockett on injured reserve, the Seahawks are turning to one of the NFL's all-time best return men to help them in the postseason, signing former All-Pro and Pro-Bowl return specialist Devin Hester. Rookie safety Tyvis Powell was waived to make room on the 53-man roster.
Hester, 34, is a three-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, and in 2014 he set an NFL record with his 20th career return touchdown, 14 of which came on punt returns, five on kick returns and one on a missed field goal. Hester spent the first eight seasons of his career as a receiver and returner for the Chicago Bears, then played in Atlanta in 2014 and 2015. He played 12 games this season for Baltimore before being released, returning 25 punts for 180 yards and 19 kickoffs for 466 yards.
The Seahawks used rookie running back J.D. McKissic as their kick returner last week, with McKissic returning one kickoff for 22 yards. Richard Sherman handled punt-return duties, returning one punt for 6 yards while fair catching four more.
Powell made the team out of camp as an undrafted rookie out of Ohio State, and appeared in eight games on special teams. He had been inactive for Seattle's previous four games.
