Things went from bad to worse for the Seattle Seahawks after Sunday’s backbreaking 27-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, when it was announced postgame that both Chris Carson (hip) and C.J. Prosise (broken arm) are expected to miss the rest of the season.
With Rashaad Penny (ACL) already on the shelf, the Seahawks are down to just one healthy running back, rookie Travis Homer, on the active roster.
The team does have Xavier Turner, who played quite a bit with Seattle during the preseason, on the practice squad, but it’s pretty clear this team will need to find some veteran help on the free-agent market to help get them through their crucial Week 17 matchup with the 49ers, as well as their playoff games.
“We have to get to scrambling, Johnny’s [Schneider] got to get to work and figure out what we’re doing next,” coach Pete Carroll said immediately after the game. “That’s a lot of game for Homer to have to play by himself. So, obviously, we will make some moves here, and figure some stuff out.”
The Seahawks are flying former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch into town on Monday to visit. If he is healthy, both sides are interested in a reunion and an agreement could come together in short order.
However, Lynch may not be the only signing the team makes (if they sign him at all) and there are still plenty of other options the team could bring in alongside, or instead of, Beast Mode.
Here are six veteran free agent running backs, not including Lynch, who I believe will hear from Pete Carroll and/or John Schneider this week – and my opinion on why they would or wouldn’t be a good fit to sign with the team.
Robert Turbin
It seems logical that the team will pursue a player who is familiar with the coaching staff and the system in place and can be ready to play right away.
For that reason, and the fact that Seattle just had him at the practice facility for a workout less than a week ago, Turbin feels like perhaps the strongest candidate to be in a Seahawks uniform in the next few days.
Turbin joined the Seahawks as a part of the magical 2012 draft class that also included Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner. He was with the team from 2012-2014, primarily serving as the team’s change-of-pace back – behind Lynch.
He’s rushed for 1,354 yards and nine touchdowns in 81 career games, with his last action coming in 2018.
Alfred Blue
Turbin didn’t try out for the Seahawks by himself, as he was joined by fellow veteran Alfred Blue.
Blue doesn’t have any experience with Seattle, which makes him a less appealing candidate to start right away as he’d have to familiarize himself with the offensive playbook.
However, Blue has more experience as a featured back, having recorded 2,407 yards and eight touchdowns along with 69 receptions for 470 yards and two touchdowns out of the backfield with the Texans from 2014-2018.
His ability as a running back and a receiver make him a more natural fit to replace Prosise as a two-minute back in the offense, a role he would likely pick up fairly quickly if called upon.
Alex Collins
If the Seahawks are looking for a big, bruising running back who used to play for them (and Lynch doesn’t work out) Alex Collins seems like the logical second option.
Collins was drafted by Seattle but was cut after his rookie season in 2016 after appearing in 11 games and rushing 31 times for 125 yards.
He caught on with the Ravens and appeared in 25 games over the next two years, rushing for 1,384 yards and 13 touchdowns.
However, Collins has yet to sign with anyone in 2019, in part because of an injury and also because he was arrested in March and eventually suspended three games by the NFL for marijuana possession. He was reinstated in November though, and at age 25 he probably has as much (or more) juice left in his system than any of the other running backs on this list.
That, coupled with his familiarity with the offense, makes him a somewhat dark horse option to end up in Seattle this week.
Jonathan Stewart
Stewart is not only the most accomplished running back out of this group (outside of Lynch), he’s also a native of Washington and expressed interest in signing with the team on Twitter shortly after the game.
Stewart attended Oregon and spent 10 years in the NFL, nine with the Panthers, rushing 1,705 times for 7,335 yards and 51 touchdowns. He played in three games with the Giants in 2018, his last NFL action.
Stewart officially retired in April, even signing a one-day contract with Carolina, so it’s not actually clear if he is interested in returning, or if he is in good enough shape to do so on such short notice.
However, his bruising running style would be a natural replacement for Carson, and it would make sense for Carroll and company to at least check in – particularly if things don’t work out with Lynch.
C.J. Anderson
Anderson is used to this situation. Just last year, the Rams called Anderson up for the final two games of the season after he had been let go by Carolina, and he rushed for 299 yards and a pair of touchdown for them, helping lead them into the playoffs.
Now, after just two games with the Lions earlier this year, Anderson is a free agent yet again and the Seahawks are already known to have at least some interest in the seven-year veteran.
Anderson is just 28 and is the only running back on this list who has actually played in 2019, which would certainly give him an advantage from a physical perspective.
The longtime Broncos running back is also a solid receiver out of the backfield, making him a nice compliment to Lynch if Seattle can pull off signing the pair.
LeGarrette Blount
Blount has not been rumored to Seattle, he has never played in Seattle, and he isn’t from the Pacific Northwest (although he did go to Oregon) but he’s one of the best free-agent running backs who has gone unsigned this year, and his bruising style of running seems to jive with Carroll’s offense.
Blount has played in nine NFL seasons and has already won three Super Bowls, another factor that could help him land a job in Seattle. He’s carried the ball 1,495 times for 6,306 yards and 56 touchdowns, including a league-leading 18 back in 2016 with the Patriots.
Blount last played with the Lions in 2018, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry, making him an unlikely option to sign in Seattle. But his history and style at least merit a phone call to see what kind of shape he’s in.
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