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RENTON, Wash. -- Tight end Jimmy Graham is out for the season after suffering a torn right patellar tendon in Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Graham was injured early in the fourth quarter when he tried to catch a pass from Russell Wilson in the end zone while being covered by Antwon Blake and Mike Mitchell. His right leg appeared to get caught underneath him as he fell to the ground.
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"We've loved Jimmy Graham coming to our team and we're very grateful that he's been part of it," head coach Pete Carroll said. "We're going to miss the heck out of him the rest of the season. He's been a fantastic addition for us and you saw him again today doing stuff, and he was going to have a huge day today if he was able to stay out there. That's unfortunate."
Graham entered the game as Seattle's leading receiver and was having a big game against the Steelers. Graham had a 36-yard reception that setup Thomas Rawls 1-yard touchdown run, and a pair of third-down catches on third-and-10 to keep drives alive.
He was finally beginning to feel like a piece of Seattle's attack and not a forced option.
Graham was placed on injured reserve Monday. The team signed defensive tackle A.J. Francis from their practice squad.
Carroll said he doesn't have a timeline for Graham's recovery, but said he expects Graham to be ready for next season.
"There's plenty of time for him to get back," Carroll said.
Tight ends Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet will be asked to increase their production, like they did last season after Zach Miller was lost to injured reserve. Miller isn't an option for Seattle as he still isn't recovered from ankle injuries suffered last season.
--Cornerback Cary Williams was a healthy scratch for Seattle after starting the first 10 games of the season.
Williams had started 81 straight games, regular and postseason combined, dating back to his time in Philadelphia and Baltimore. He was initially benched last week against San Francisco after allowing a 36-yard pass to Vance McDonald in the third quarter.
Williams signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Seattle this offseason, but he's struggled at times to adapt into Seattle's secondary. He had initial trouble implementing the "kick-step" technique Seattle teaches their cornerbacks to play. He also blew assignments at times and gave up big plays in the passing game too frequently.
His struggles led to the benching last week and it continued Sunday, with DeShawn Shead taking Williams' place in the starting lineup.
"We wanted to give DeShawn a chance to play," Carroll said. "He's been competing and battling like crazy. We thought there was a little bit of an opening for guys to step in and take advantage of that opportunity. I thought he played a fantastic football game for his first really big game."
Shead was second on the team with 10 tackles against Pittsburgh and recorded four passes defended. Williams had four passes defended all season long.
Shead will continue as the starter after his performance on Sunday. It leaves Williams' status with the team in a bit of limbo.
NOTES: Fullback Will Tukuafu left the game with a concussion and did not return. He will have to clear concussion protocol before he is able to return to the field. ... Defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs left the game with a concussion and did not return. He will also have to clear concussion protocol before he is able to return to the field. ...Linebacker Bruce Irvin played 34 total plays after being listed as doubtful to play due to an MCL sprain in his right knee. Irvin missed the previous game against the San Francisco 49ers with the injury but was ultimately able to play after being checked out in pregame warmups. ... Cornerback Jeremy Lane played 53 plays (34 on defense and 19 on special teams) in his first game back off the PUP list. Lane said he was hurting throughout the game and that his legs quit on him on his interception return, but he feels his conditioning will come in time. ... Wide receiver Paul Richardson "has a great chance" to get back this week, per Carroll. Richardson has missed the last two games with a hamstring strain.
