The Seattle Seahawks are deep in the hunt for the playoffs, but injuries could be what keeps them on the outside looking in. The team is dealing with a number of issues at the running back position while Marshawn Lynch's health remains a mystery. After releasing DuJuan Harris and signing Bryce Brown, the Seahawks are also bringing back a familiar face in Christine Michael.
According to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com, the Seahawks have re-signed Michael who was most recently with the Dallas Cowboys. Michael had been traded because the Seahawks were moving forward with Thomas Rawls, but since the running back suffered a fractured ankle in Week 14, Michael gets another chance at playing in Seattle. The running back had just 254 yards playing in the shadows of Lynch for two years while he put up just 51 yards in five games with the Cowboys. Head coach Pete Carroll told the media that he is happy to have Michael back in the mix while stressing the need for a rotation on the ground.
"He's been with us for a long time, so he does have a lot of background," Carroll said, via ESPN.com. "That doesn't mean he's going to be the featured guy or starter or anything like that. He's just coming in here and trying to help us out, and we'll see how that works out. But it is good to be able to pull somebody in that has that kind of background."
According to the Seattle Times, Michael and Brown will compete for the starting spot against the Cleveland Browns while Fred Jackson rotates as the third-down back. Brown has been with the team an extra day which does not give him an edge over Michael. However, the running back stressed that he is ready for more work as he has been waiting for an opportunity like this to come along. Facing the Browns could be a nice way for both running backs to get acclimated with the Seahawks offense.
"I mean anything can happen,'' Brown said, via the Seattle Times. "It's this business. It's crazy, It's unpredictable. Just the nature of the beast. This league is about opportunity and that's what I've got - an opportunity - and I'm just looking to make the most of it."
The Seattle Times is reporting the Seahawks likely will not get Lynch back until potentially the final game of the season if that. Ideally, the veteran would be replacing Rawls, but surgery to fix a sports hernia has prevented him from being on the field. Carroll told the media that Lynch is rehabbing in an offsite area as they are hopeful to get him back soon, but have not definite timetable at the moment.
