Seahawks TE Zach Miller headed to IR (ankle)

Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller is headed to IR because of an ankle injury.

Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller is headed to IR because of an ankle injury, the team announced Wednesday.

Miller underwent ankle surgery following Seattle's Week 3 win over the Denver Broncos and was initially expected to miss only 4-to-6 weeks. But Miller's ankle never healed properly, and he will now be shut down for the season. In three games, he caught six passes for 76 yards. Over his eight seasons in the league, this will be Miller's first in which he didn't play in at least 14 games.

Last season, Miller finished fourth on the Super Bowl XLIX champions' roster with 36 catches. This season, the Seahawks have split the majority of their receptions between wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse, plus running back Marshawn Lynch. Seattle's passing game ranks 31st, averaging 194.4 yards per game.

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According to The Seattle Times, head coach Pete Carroll said the Seahawks' backup tight ends, Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet, could both play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Both are also sporting minor injuries, however -- Wilson has a sprained ankle and Helfet has a sore knee. Willson has eight receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown this season, while Helfet has caught seven passes for 147 yards and one touchdown.

Miller is the second Seahawks player to head to IR in as many days. Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, the team's longest-tenured player, was shut down for the season on Tuesday due to a torn hamstring.

At 6-3, the Seahawks are riding a three-game winning streak. They sit two games behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West.

- Mike Fiammetta

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