With offensive injuries mounting, where will Seahawks look to fill the void?

The injury bug has struck, and it struck hard. Some very big decisions are coming and it could change the Seahawks for seasons to come.

Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise are likely both out for the season, just two weeks after Rashaad Penny tore his ACL. As if the Seahawks needed any more bad news, Duane Brown is undergoing surgery this AM and will be out at least a couple of weeks.

Neither Jadeveon Clowney nor Shaquill Griffin have shown improvement despite multiple weeks off. If nothing changes soon, it sounds like these two will either have to play through excruciating pain and hope the injuries don’t get worse, or ending up on injured reserve themselves. As Pete Carroll said in last night’s press conference “(GM) John (Schneider) has got to get working.”

Seahawks have in-house options

Travis Homer

First and foremost, I am ecstatic to see Homer out there getting some reps. He plays incredibly hard and has a gear that Carson simply can’t get to in terms of speed. He has earned the opportunity to get more snaps.

In the draft process, scouts loved his contact balance, footwork, cuts and pass blocking ability. His only drawbacks came from a fumbling issue much in line with Chris Carson’s this season, and below-average field vision.

That being said, I’m not comfortable to have him as the number one back just yet. It’s difficult to thrust a player into the starting spot when he has been the fourth string RB/special teams guy all year. I would be a lot more comfortable if the number one was a committee approach.

Xavier Turner:

This brings me to Turner. In all my preseason depth charts I had Turner winning the final spot over Prosise. I loved what he brought to the table. He is explosive and doesn’t shy away from contact. He has a low center of gravity and can bruise his way through for extra yardage.

In the draft process, scouts said he plays with a great contact balance, with strong compact legs and enough power to play through contact. His real draws came from his lack of downhill speed and heavy feet, making it difficult to make his way through tight windows in the run game.

Turner has been with our practice squad all year so he would be the most logical option to fill roster spot number one given his experience with the organization and how it runs. Considering the ease of calling him up from the practice squad to active roster, there will be no maneuvering needed.

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Seahawks external options

C.J. Anderson

Just last year Anderson was called upon by the Rams after Todd Gurley succumbed to a series of injuries. Anderson didn’t just fill in, he became a star for the team. He averaged 7.0 yard per carry and had two touchdowns over 43 rushing attempts in just games.

I’m astonished that Anderson is available right now. After his showing last year he more than deserved a roster spot. Nevertheless, this is a perfect opportunity for Seattle to swoop in and steal a player who can immediately fill the number one role.

Through his career, Anderson has averaged 4.5 yards per carry. He stands at just 5’8″ so he has that god-given leverage thanks to a low center of gravity. This makes it really difficult for opposing defenses and tackling. Anderson may be in the twilight of his career at 28 but has shown he can be a factor when given an opportunity.

Marshawn Lynch

This would be a dream scenario. We all know Marshawn visited the Seahawks practice center just a few weeks ago. While that was purely a social visit, one has to wonder. If he still has ties that close to the organization, would he consider coming out of retirement for one last hurrah? After all, these are his brothers and they definitely in need of a playmaker.

Last year for the Raiders, in his age 32 seasons, he still averaged 4.2 yards per carry on 90 rush attempts. While that may not scream bell cow anymore is realistically all we would need of him for in these final 2-5 games, 90 rushes. He clearly has enough burst left in the tank to help Seattle get where they need to go. So would Lynch become out of retirement one last time?

Antonio Brown

This is the option I eluded to in the introduction. Will Seattle relinquish the reigns on a run first game plan and give Russell Wilson full control of the team? It makes sense now more than ever with the highly depleted running depth chart.

If we signed Antonio Brown we would get a dynamic offensive weapon that would allow Wilson to spread the ball better than ever. Coming into the year, minus the off-field issues, Brown was considered a top three wideout. While his diva-like attitude has been problematic in the past, above all, he wants to win. He know how to play, and how to get open in key downs better than just about anyone.

Seattle would give him a perfect opportunity to step in and be the new number two option for a playoff team. It would likely require DK Metcalf to slide back to three in the depth chart, and that’s just fine. Wilson pushed the front office to sign him weeks ago. However, Seattle chose to submit a waiver claim for Josh Gordon instead. With that ship sailed, would Seattle give him another look?

At this point in the year with how drastic the roster has changed with injuries, it’s time to take some calculated risks. This to me is a risk worth taking with the playoffs right around the corner.