SEATTLE — Earlier this season, wide receiver Ruvell Martin was just hoping to have a job in the NFL.
On Sunday, Martin solidified his place with the Seahawks, making three catches for a team-best 85 yards, including a 61-yard grab of a Charlie Whitehurst pass on Seattle’s second play from scrimmage that set up the team’s only touchdown in Seattle’s 16-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams.
“I was just trying to give Charlie some type of sign that I was open,” said Martin of his route up the right sideline. “He made the throw and I made the catch.”
Martin played eight games for St. Louis a year ago, so his showing against the Rams was particularly sweet, he admitted.
“I was there for just about the entire season last year and I really didn’t get an opportunity,” he said. “It’s frustrating when you’re always sitting on the sideline. I would’ve loved to get in there and show them I could play, but I never really got that opportunity. So to get out there and play against these guys and do well, it felt great.”
Martin signed with Seattle last March and was one of the team’s last cuts coming out of training camp. He signed again on November 3, was released three days later, and then re-signed on Nov. 13 after an injury to wide receiver Golden Tate.
Prior to Sunday, Martin had receptions in just one game this season — Dec. 12 at San Francisco, when he caught four passes for 73 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
Martin, an undrafted free agent with San Diego in 2004, had his best season in 2006 with Green Bay, when he played in 13 games with three starts and 21 catches for 358 yards and one touchdown. A year later he had 16 receptions for 242 yards and four touchdowns for the Packers.
Sunday’s game has “kind of been my career so far,” said Martin, who moved up in Seattle’s wide receiver rotation after Brandon Stokley suffered a concussion in last week’s game against Tampa Bay. “When my name is called, I need to be able to step up and do what’s asked of me.
“I don’t think I did anything special or anything different from anybody else today. It just happened to be the day my name was called, and I was happy that it was. I was happy that I was able to get out there and make some plays.”
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