Entering the 2021 season with Chris Carson atop the running back depth chart, the Seattle Seahawks thought they knew who was going to dominate touches in the backfield. Instead, the two-time 1,000-yard rusher was limited four games, getting just 54 carries for 232 yards and three touchdowns after having to shut things down less than halfway through the campaign.
Enter Rashaad Penny.
Seattle had long been high on the 2018 first-round pick, but Penny battled numerous injuries in his young career, resulting in just 27 games played entering 2021. When he finally got healthy over the final few months of last season, 26-year-old showed what he's capable of, setting career-highs in rushing attempts (119), rushing yards (749), rushing touchdowns (six), rushing first downs (28), rushing yards per game (74.8) and rushing attempts per game (11.9).
Penny's career-high 6.3 yards per carry also led the entire NFL for players with double-digit attempts.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had high praise for the San Diego St. product when discussing him on Wednesday.
#Seahawks coach Pete Carroll gushing about RB Rashaad Penny’s breakout year: “His confidence just soared.” Says the free-agent-to-be wants to be back and they want him back: “Hopefully we can get him back.”
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 2, 2022
Carroll clearly took note of Penny's efforts and it sounds like there is mutual interest in a return to Seattle.
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