Seahawks Place Obomanu On IR; Sign Kearse

Bad health news continued for the Seahawks’ wide receiver group when Ben Obomanu was lost for the season with a wrist injury. After seeing a specialist Monday, he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday as Jermaine Kearse, the former University of Washington star, was moved from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster.

The Seahawks played Sunday without WR Doug Baldwin, out with a sprained ankle. He’ll likely miss Sunday’s game against Minnesota. The status of another wideout, Braylon Edwards, was unclear after his knee swelled before the 28-24 loss in Detroit, and was held out of the game.

Obomanu was usually the fifth receiver and a key member of special teams. Since being selected with the second of two seventh-round draft choices (249^th overall) in the 2006 NFL draft, Obomanu has participated in 66 games with 13 starts, recording 87 receptions for 1,209 yards and seven touchdowns. On special teams with 25 tackles and one fumble recovery. He played in all games this season with four receptions for 58 yards and three special teams tackles.

The Seahawks also released cornerback Danny Gorrer, who was signed Sept. 18 but didn’t play. That could make room for Walter Thurmond, who has been on the physically unable to perform list, recovering from a broken fibula, which was fractured for the second time in a year back in March. Seattle has until Monday to activate Thurmond, release him or place him on injured reserve.

Tackle Mike Person from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster, and wide receiver Phil Bates was signed to the practice squad.

Kearse was undrafted but signed as a free agent with the Seahawks and was signed to the practice squad Sept. 3. Person spent time with San Francisco and Indianapolis before signing with Seattle’s practice squad Sept. 13. Bates also was with Seattle during this year’s training camp before his release Aug. 26.

It is possible, although unlikely, that the Seahawks could be active at the NFL’s trading deadline, which has been pushed back until noon Thursday due to Hurricane Sandy. Seattle has been linked in media reports to WR Dwayne Bowe, who said he wants out of Kansas City and won’t re-sign with the Chiefs.