Barely a year ago, Chris Carson re-signed with the Seahawks. That deal and Rashaad Penny beginning another season sidelined kept Carson locked into his starting role in Seattle’s backfield.
Carson’s early-season injury changed the team’s plans. The neck issue the longtime Seattle starter encountered in October lingered for weeks and eventually prompted the five-year veteran to undergo surgery. The Seahawks have since re-signed Penny, after he delivered the best stretch of his career to finish last season, and drafted Kenneth Walker in the second round. Carson’s contract runs through 2022, but the Seahawks are not yet sure when he will be ready to return.
“We don’t have updates yet on Chris and we won’t know for some time, so there’s a little bit of uncertainty that we’re waiting on,” Pete Carroll said recently, via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson.
Usually optimistic on his injured players, Carroll providing this assessment is a cause for concern. The Seahawks have seen multiple key contributors — Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril — suffer career-ending neck injuries in recent years. It is not certain that is where Carson is headed, but the team using a No. 41 overall pick on a running back points to a new-look backfield. Carson and Penny’s injury histories point to Walker having a shot to contribute early.
Carson, who had bounced back from a broken leg to be the Seahawks’ starter from 2018-20 and to begin last season, missed 13 games last year because of his neck problem. The two-time 1,000-yard rusher collected $5.5MM fully guaranteed as part of his two-year, $10.4MM deal. He is due a $4.5MM base salary this season.
I like the sea chickens decision taking Kenneth.
Besides QB they actually have a decent offence.
Really good young RB, really good WR duo and good young TE in Noah Fant. The o line, is improved/improving I like Charles Cross for them.
It’s a rebuild, and I like that they aren’t half invested or having any doubts they’ve made their minds up and are all in on the rebuild.
I still think Baker or Jimmy G would be a good addition at the right price. Nothing more than a 4th round pick. Cause even on a 1 year deal they may impress you and because they are young you could still build around 1 of them. Obviously the Drew Lock vs Geno Smith is just tanking mindset which is fair enough I guess.
I like Walker a lot as a prospect, but there were a lot of strong prospects at more valuable positions on the board and that defense needs help at all three levels.
If Walker is the best player on their board, then they should draft him. Plus, did you read this article? Carson is not coming back, and Penny has only played a handful of healthy games in his career. RB was a position of need, especially in Pete’s run heavy offense. Forcing a pick like LJ Collier because you needed a DE is how you bomb a pick.