Seahawks sign DE Patrick Chukwurah to replace Chris Clemons
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| Seahawks DE Patrick Chukwurah led the UFL in sacks for two years as a member of the Florida Tuskers. (US Presswire) |
Three days after DE Chris Clemons went out with a season-ending torn ACL, the Seattle Seahawks could have turned to marquee free agents Ray Edwards or Aaron Maybin to replace their leading pass rusher.
Instead, the Seahawks added a relatively obscure defensive end on Wednesday who last appeared in an NFL regular-season game in 2007. Patrick Chukwurah, a seven-year veteran, could be used in a reserve capacity when the Seahawks face the Falcons on Sunday.
Chukwurah, 33, had been working as a personal trainer, according to the Seattle Times, before he beat out Edwards and Maybin in a tryout early this week. Chukwurah (6-1, 250) recorded one sack in nine games with the Buccaneers in 2007, before leading the United Football League in sacks for two seasons.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley served as the Buccaneers' linebacker coach during Chukwurah's short stint in Tampa Bay.
When asked if he had become frustrated by his extended absence from the NFL, Chukwurah told the Orlando Sentinel in 2009, "you're going to be bitter, especially if you didn't think you got a fair shot to do what you felt you could do.”
Chukwurah added: “But that's life, man, that's the NFL.”
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Seahawks rookie DE Bruce Irvin is expected to start in place of Clemons, who was placed on IR. Beside Irvin, the Seahawks don't have a single player on their roster with more than three sacks. Chukwurah, who entered the league in 2001 as a fifth-round pick of the Vikings, also spent three seasons with the Broncos (2004-06).
The Falcons are ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks allowed per pass attempt (4.55 percent of their attempts).
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