The Seahawks signed free agent cornerback Crezdon Butler and promoted linebacker Nick Moody off of their practice squad Wednesday. Receiver B.J. Daniels and running back Rod Smith were waived to make room on the roster.
Butler adds depth to a position hit hard by injuries in recent weeks. Tharold Simon missed three of Seattle's first four games with a toe injury, then was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Marcus Burley is recovering from thumb surgery, while rookie Tye Smith is dealing with a hip injury that kept him out of Sunday's game.
"We needed to do something with Marcus down and Tharold not being able to come back," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "That was necessitated that we had to do something. Hopefully Crezdon Butler can get in here and help us out. We worked him out a couple weeks ago and liked what he did there, so we'll see how he does."
Butler, who is 6-foot, 191 pounds, was a fifth-round pick in 2010 out of Clemson. He has spent time with Pittsburgh, Arizona, Washington, Arizona a second time, Buffalo, San Diego and Tampa Bay, then spent training camp this season with Detroit, but did not make the 53-man roster.
Butler has appeared in 36 games in his career, recording 22 tackles. He has three career starts, all of which came last year with the Buccaneers.
Moody, who spent his first two seasons in San Francisco, starting two games last season, was a sixth-round pick out of Florida State in 2013. He was released as the 49ers set their 53-man roster prior to the start of the season, then signed to Seattle's practice squad.
"He's going to back up at linebacker right now to help us with Bobby's spot in the event that he can't go and he'll also help us on special teams," Carroll said.
Carroll later clarified that Moody is currently playing weakside linebacker, which would mean he's not directly backing up Wagner's position, but rather that he provides overall linebacker depth should Wagner not be available this week because of a pectoral muscle injury. If Wagner couldn't play, K.J. Wright, who usually starts at weakside linebacker, would likely move to middle linebacker with Kevin Pierre-Louis playing weakside linebacker, creating need for more depth there, which Moody can provide.
Daniels, who converted from quarterback to receiver in the offseason, made the 53-man roster out of camp, thanks in part to his versatility to play receiver, help on special teams and serve as an emergency No. 3 quarterback. Daniels was inactive for Seattle's first three games, then played against Detroit, catching one pass for 12 yards. He was active again Sunday in Cincinnati, but appeared only on special teams.
Rod Smith, who spent training camp with the Seahawks before being waived during roster cuts, then signed to the practice squad, was added to the 53-man roster Saturday with Marshawn Lynch ruled out and Fred Jackson listed as questionable because of injuries. The undrafted rookie out of Ohio State had two carries for 5 yards serving as Seattle's third back behind Thomas Rawls and Jackson.
