Seattle Seahawks helmet shown on field. The team released wide receiver and return man Laviska Shenault Jr.Seattle Seahawks helmet (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

The Seattle Seahawks are moving on from former highly-touted wide receiver and special teams standout Laviska Shenault Jr.

In a surprise move, the Seahawks announced on Monday that they’ve waived Laviska Shenault Jr. following their 26-21 road win over the New York Jets. Shenault muffed two kicks and lost a fumble, prompting head coach Mike Macdonald and GM John Schneider to make the move.

The move is a bit surprising given Shenault’s big-play ability as a returner. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2020 second-round pick had 459 kick return yards with the Seahawks, including a 97-yard kick return touchdown in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers.

But Laviska Shenault Jr.’s problems controlling the football against a struggling Jets team was enough for Seattle to move on. Now atop the NFC West with a 7-5 record, the Seahawks carry a three-game win streak into Sunday’s Week 14 road contest against the Arizona Cardinals.

Also Read: New York Jets Release Notable RB In Shocking Move After Embarrassing Loss To Seattle Seahawks

Shenault Jr. played two seasons with the Jaguars before joining the Carolina Panthers, where he played from 2022 to 2023. In 11 games with the Seahawks, Shenault Jr. also had five catches for 36 yards.

Laviska Shenault Jr. Should Get Picked Up By Another Team Soon

Shenault Jr. hasn’t quite lived up to expectations as a former highly-touted second-round pick out of Colorado, but he’s more than capable of being a quality impact player if a team gives him the opportunity.

Don’t forget that this is a player who hit the 50-catch and 600-yard marks as a receiver in his first two seasons with Jacksonville.