The Seahawks have seen their starting running back struggle with a neck injury this season. Chris Carson has missed the past five games, and his return from IR may now be in question.
Although Carson returned to practice a week ago Wednesday, starting his 21-day activation clock, Pete Carroll said today the fifth-year veteran has not made the progress the team hoped in the time since, via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta (on Twitter). Considering Carroll’s usual injury-related optimism, his Carson comments are certainly notable.
This report comes a few weeks after another that indicated Carson had an uncertain timetable. Given that Carson returned to practice and is now on the mend again, the prospect of a season-ending IR reversion — similar to that of the Ravens’ Derek Wolfe, whose 21-day return window closed Tuesday — is realistic.
Seattle re-signed Carson on a two-year, $10.43M deal in March, doing so after the former seventh-round pick established himself as the team’s starting back over the previous three years. Carson, 27, cleared 1,100 rushing yards in 2018 and ’19, holding off first-round pick Rashaad Penny for the position. His two strong years notwithstanding, Carson has an extensive injury history. He suffered a broken leg as a rookie, missed the end of the 2019 season because of a hip injury and was sidelined for four games last season due to a foot sprain. This neck issue has brought another bad break for the Day 3 success story.
The Seahawks rank 22nd in rushing but do now have injury-prone Penny healthy, with the former first-round pick working alongside veteran Alex Collins.
More must-reads: