The Seahawks activated tight end Ed Dickson off of injured reserve Wednesday, adding needed depth at a position that has been hit hard by injuries this season.

Veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor was waived to make room on the 53-man roster, a move that opens the door for rookie Ugo Amadi to likely take over the nickel role.

The return of Dickson, who started the year on injured reserve due to knee surgery during training camp, comes at a good time for Seattle. Luke Willson, who has been the starter since Will Dissly landed on injured reserve, injured his hamstring in Seattle's Week 10 win over the 49ers, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday that it is unlikely that Willson will make it back this week.

This will be the second year in a row that Dickson has joined the Seahawks after starting the year on IR. Last year, Dickson appeared in 10 games, starting one, and recorded 12 catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns.

Taylor, who signed with the Seahawks as a free agent in the offseason, was released prior to the start of the season, then re-signed after Seattle's Week 1 win over Cincinnati, and he had been Seattle's nickel corner since rejoining the team. But when asked about Amadi's progress on Monday, Carroll made it clear that the fourth-round pick out of Oregon had a good chance of taking over that nickel role even before this roster move was made.

"He's doing really well," Carroll said. "He has been a playmaker on special teams throughout. His opportunities will continue to come about because he has been so consistent in everything he is doing. He hasn't done anything that isn't good. His effort is great, his playmaking, his decision making, the savvy, the situations that he's been in; he's just been really good. So, I'm anxious for him to contribute more. He's one of those guys that have been with us long enough, it's time for him to get some more opportunities so we're looking for that. Still a great competitor for us on a number of positions for us for play time. Coming off the break we have a chance to revisit some of that stuff so, if it fits with different positions, and guys, and individuals, we're looking to take advantage of that."

The Seahawks also made an addition to the practice squad Wednesday, signing linebacker Pita Taumoepenu. A 2017 sixth-round pick by the 49ers, Taumoepenu has appeared in six games, recording three tackles. He spent training camp with Arizona this year, but was waived/injured during roster cuts, then later waived from injured reserve in September.