Will Seahawks’ Prosise always be an injury concern?
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks have a bunch of running backs working to make the 2017 roster. Some have dealt with injury injuries, especially C.J. Prosise. Is Prosise worth keeping on Seattle’s roster if he is seemingly so fragile?
Many times personnel decisions are tough in the NFL. But every team has to keep players that will make them better in the present and the future. The Seahawks have this same issue with running back Prosise.
Prosise is talented. He can catch and has great athleticism. Prosise also has good size. What he doesn’t have is durability. Since his Seahawks career began Prosise has battled one injury or another. But it gets worse. Prosise has not had a fully healthy season since middle school.
In fact, since September of 2015, Prosise has had the following issues:
November 7, 2015: Concussion
November 21, 2015: High ankle sprain
August 1, 2016 (rookie year with Seahawks): Hamstring strain
September 11, 2016: Broken hand and sprained wrist
November 20, 2016: Broken scapula
August 19, 2017: Groin strain
Both the injuries on November 21, 2015 and November 20, 2016 ended Prosise’s seasons.
No player wants to get injured, of course. Prosise works hard in the offseason to be in shape for upcoming seasons. No one doubts that the running back has a great work ethic.
Plus, in those brief windows when Prosise does play, he is very good. Against the New England Patriots last year, Prosise has 153 total yards and helped Seattle defeat the Patriots in Foxborough. The following week he scored on a 72-yard run in the first quarter. By halftime, he was out for the season with the shoulder injury.
Roster spots at running back
Prosise is assumed by most to be a lock to make the Seahawks. One might assume that just as many think he will never be an every down back who stays healthy for long periods of time. Therein lies the problem. Prosise has an abundance of ability and could even be considered to start with the Seahawks. But he simply cannot stay healthy.
Thomas Rawls and Eddie Lacy, two of the Seahawks other good backs, also deal with being hurt. Both, however, have just as much potential as Prosise. Chris Carson and Alex Collins, if given reps, might also produce at a good level. The same goes for Mike Davis.
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The questions become 1) should Seattle keep Prosise because, when healthy, he can be great and risk cutting a player who can be good simply based on Prosise potential?; or 2) let Prosise go because another player might be less talented but stay healthier and therefore more reliable?
Risk versus reward. The is what the Seahawks face with Prosise. Hopefully, he negates any questions of his worth by just staying healthy and productive.