The Seattle Seahawks are waiving kick returner Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Seattle Seahawks waived kick returner and wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. on Monday.

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The move comes a day after Shenault botched two kick returns in Seattle’s 26-21 win over the New York Jets. The first muff forced the Seahawks to begin a drive at their own 12-yard line. The second muff resulted in a fumble that gave New York the ball at the Seattle 38-yard line. Shenault also lost a fumble on a kickoff during the Seahawks’ 36-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6.

Shenault’s ball-handling problems overshadowed his big-play skills, which he showcased with a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown in the loss to the 49ers. He is one of only six players with a kick return touchdown this season under the NFL’s new kickoff rules.

Shenault, who signed a one-year deal with Seattle in April, served as the team’s two primary kick returners this season alongside rookie return specialist Dee Williams. Shenault returned 16 kicks for 459 yards, an average of 28.7 yards per return. He also had five catches for 36 yards and one carry for 1 yard. He played just 45 offensive snaps in 11 games.

Shenault, a 2020 second-round draft pick out of Jacksonville, reached the 600-yard receiving mark in each of his first two seasons with the Jaguars. But after he was traded to Carolina, his production declined. He totaled 272 yards in 2022 and just 60 yards last year while missing half the season due to injury.

Shenault looked to revive his career in Seattle, where his Swiss Army Knife skills earned him a spot on the roster after a strong preseason.

Shenault isn’t the only Seahawks returner struggling to maintain control of the ball. Williams lost a muffed punt against the Denver Broncos in Week 1, a muffed punt against the 49ers in Week 6 and lost a fumble on a kick return against the Jets on Sunday.

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