Seahawks Cuts: Wide receiver Deon Butler, backup QB Josh Portis on waiver list

The Seahawks have reportedly cut ties with WR Deon Butler, their 2009 third-round draft pick.

By John Breech

Aug 31, 2012 at 7:15 pm ET • 1 min read

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his coaching staff had until 6 p.m. PT on Friday to trim their roster down from 75 to 53 players. Wide receiver was the position that produced the most surprising cut -- Deon Butler. The Seahawks went into cut day with 11 receivers on the roster; the team kept just six receivers, the same number they had last year.

Notable cuts: WR Deon Butler (4th year, 3rd round in 2009 draft, Penn State) -- Butler's cut is somewhat of a surprise. The 2009 third-round pick suffered a broken leg in December 2010. The rehab from the gruesome leg injury caused Butler to miss the first 11 games of the 2011 season. Butler was thought to have a high upside, but it looks like the Seahawks have to decided to go another route. Butler's three-year stint in Seattle will end with 57 catches for 611 yards and 4 touchdowns. QB Josh Portis (second year, undrafted free agent 2011, California, Pa.) -- The Seahawks went into training camp with four quarterbacks and a 3-way quarterback competition, however, when the smoke cleared, only two QB's remained. After trading Tarvaris Jackson to Buffalo, the Seahawks cut Portis. Carroll did keep two QB's in 2010, but he seems to like having three on the roster. Portis could end up on the practice sqaud.

Complete cut list

WR Kris Durham (second year, fourth round in 2011 draft, Georgia), LB Korey Toomer (rookie, fifth round pick in 2012 draft, Idaho), OL Paul Fanaika (second year, seventh round in 2009 draft, Arizona State), WR Ricardo Lockette (second year, undrafted free agent 2011, Fort Valley State), CB Phillip Adams (third year, seventh round pick in 2010, South Carolina State), G Rishaw Johnson (rookie, UDFA 2012, California, Pa.), LB Allen Bradford (second year, sixth round pick in 2011, USC), TE Sean McGrath (rookie, UDFA 2012, Henderson State), OL Kris O'Dowd (first year, UDFA 2011, USC), DB DeShawn Shead (rookie, UDFA 2012, Portland State), WR Lavasier Tuinei (rookie, UDFA 2012, Oregon), TE Cooper Helfet (rookie, UDFA 2012, Duke), RB Vai Taua (first year, UDFA 2011, Nevada), DE Cordarro Law (rookie, UDFA 2012, Southern Mississippi).