Chris Carson takes firm grip on starting running back job for Seahawks

Pete Carroll “opened up” the running back competition last week after Chris Carson fumbled for the third time in three weeks, but an injury to Rashaad Penny in practice forced him to be inactive and the Seahawks forged ahead with the risky but dangerous Carson over C.J. Prosise and Travis Homer.

The result was the temporary closing of the competition at running back.

Carson carried the ball 22 times for 104 yards and caught four passes for another 41, but most importantly he didn’t fumble and he looked better than he had on any of his previous 45 carries this season. Carson was breaking tackles, forcing missed tackles, finding lanes, making good decisions, and fighting for extra yardage that helped make the difference in several drives.

It was Carson’s first 100-yard game since ending 2018 with three straight 100-yard games. His 41 receiving yards was a career high and Carson now has 101 receiving yards on the season. He had 163 receiving yards all of 2018, but he’s now on pace for over 400 yards through the air. Carson has 260 rushing yards overall.

Seattle hosts the LA Rams in four days as they look to establish a lead in the NFC West over the team that’s won the division in each of the last two years. Carson had 116 rushing yards in the first meeting between the two teams in 2018 but missed game two. I would expect Penny to be back, but I wouldn’t expect Carroll to switch away from what is suddenly once again the hot hand.