The rivalry between the Seahawks and 49ers went up a notch Monday when San Francisco signed Chris Harper off Seattle’s practice squad, where the Seahawks had hoped to stash the fourth-round pick after they cut him in Saturday’s roster trim to the 53-player maximum.
The signing was not announced officially, but Harper’s name was notable by its absence when the Seahawks released the names of its practice squad members late Monday morning:
OT Michael Brooks, TE Cooper Helfet, LB Ty Powell, G, Ryan Seymour, DB, DeShawn Shead, DT Sealver Siliga, G Jared Smith, WR Bryan Walters.
The 49ers cleared a spot on the 53-man roster for Harper by trading LB Cam Johnson to Indianapolis for a conditional 2014 draft pick. Harper was taken in the fourth round (123rd pick) by Seattle, but had a couple of drops in the the final exhibition game against Oakland, including a likely touchdown, and was passed by Jermaine Kearse and Stephen Williams for the fourth and fifth receiver spots. He had four catches for 39 yards in the preseason.
The 49ers have two prominent receivers, Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham, on the physically unable to perform list.
On the Seahawk’s practice squad are three draftees, all seventh rounders — Seymour, Smith and Powell.
Siliga was acquired in the recent trade for guard John Moffitt. Shead is on the practice squad for the second straight season.