Seattle Seahawks finally sign Fred Jackson, Turbin likely gone

The news we’ve been waiting on for three days finally came this afternoon. The Seattle Seahawks have signed running back Fred Jackson.

Fred Jackson agrees to 1-year deal with Seahawks. The RB has spent all 8 seasons of his career with Bills. pic.twitter.com/yMYQf6MFO4
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 4, 2015

Jackson visited the Seahawks on Tuesday and took a physical at the time. He remained unsigned until Friday. While Pete Carroll diplomatically said the team hadn’t made a decision on Jackson yet, all evidence points to the contrary.

The fact is that Jackson hadn’t had a chance to learn the offense. With only a walk though and no practices between his visit and Thursday’s game, there was no chance for him to learn any of the offense in time to play. Instead the Seahawks kept the roster spot to used elsewhere.

The 34 year old veteran brings tremendous pass block and receiving skills to Seattle. This is something that the Seahawks lack with Robert Turbin currently injured.

Turbin is out 6-8 weeks with a high ankle sprain. Now it seems that his time with the Seahawks may be over. Jackson’s addition means that Turbin will likely be waived/injured when rosters are set tomorrow.

Turbin is in the final year of his contract, so there is little incentive for the Seahawks to stash him on IR. Instead, he’ll almost certainly get an injury settle so he can play somewhere once he’s healed.

It should also be noted that Jackson and Marshawn Lynch are good friends. They played together in Buffalo, and have remained close since Lynch came to Seattle. There will be no concerns of Lynch feeling slighted when he has to come out of the game so Jackson can get his snaps.

Jackson ran for 525 yards last season in 2014, and added another 501 receiving. Both of those numbers are far greater than Turbin has produced in any of his seasons in the NFL.

Update: according to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, Turbin has been waived/injured. The roster move happened after the league office had closed, and thus will not become official until the morning.

Next: Clark and Lockett continue to soar

More from 12th Man Rising

Home/Seattle Seahawks News