Tight end John Carlson will miss this season because of a torn labrum, which will require surgery.

Carlson, 27, played in the team's first exhibition game, but was sitting out practice the following week. He has not practiced the past two weeks because of the shoulder injury.

Carlson was watching Tuesday's practice.

Carlson's injury comes after the Seahawks signed Zach Miller as an unrestricted free agent. Carlson is in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Seahawks had hoped to pair him with Miller often this season.

"It's disappointing because John has had a great start to camp," coach Pete Carroll. "He was rocking and rolling, and those two guys out there together looked really good. Fortunately, our tight ends have really played well."

Second-year tight end Anthony McCoy and Dominique Byrd -- a former third-round pick who played for Carroll at USC -- have been so productive that there was some thought the Seahawks might keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster as they did a year ago.

Cameron Morrah, who played well last season, is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and is not expected to be activated before the season begins.

Miller is one of four tight ends in the league who has caught 50 or more passes in each of the three previous seasons.

Carlson was chosen in the second round in 2008 and led the team with 55 receptions his rookie season. He caught 51 passes in 2009. Those two seasons ranks as the two highest single-season reception totals of any tight end in franchise history.

There were expectations Carlson might have a breakout season last year, perhaps even make the Pro Bowl. Instead, he finished with a career-low 31 catches, often being called on to perform some of the fullback's blocking duties while Michael Robinson was out for more than a month with an injured hamstring.

Making Carlson a part of the passing game was an emphasis this season.

"We're certainly going to miss John," Carroll said. "We were really counting on him having a fantastic year for us, and that's a big loss for us."