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Brady HendersonESPN
The Seattle Seahawks Are you releasing running back Chris Carson ESPN was confirmed by a source that the failed physical designation was not correct.
Carson will be able to return to the NFL but has been working to recover from a neck injury which ended his 2021 season.
Although Carson’s departure is a major blow to Seattle’s backfield, it’s not surprising considering the uncertainty surrounding his return from a neck injury that could have been life-threatening. In recent months, multiple Seahawks sources doubted that Carson would be cleared to play after undergoing what Pete Carroll called fusion surgery in December.
The team had been planning to continue without him. Rashaad Penny Before drafting, March Kenneth Walker III In the second round of April’s draft.
NFL Network first reported Seattle’s plan to release Carson.
Carson was present in four of the last season’s first games but could not return due to a neck injury. Carroll last month stated that Carson had not yet been cleared to move and still hadn’t gained full mobility. He said that Carson was “concerned” about his playing future.
Carson, 27, rose from being a seventh-round Oklahoma State pick in 2017 to become one of the league’s best runner when healthy. He was Seattle’s starting quarterback for all five NFL seasons, beating out Eddie Lacy (a free agent signing) and Penny (the Seattle’s first-rounder the next year. He reached 1,100 yards in both 2018 (14 games) & 2019 (15 games), his two best seasons in an otherwise injury-prone career. By doing so, he became Seahawks’ first ever back. Marshawn Lynch In 2013-14 to record consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 rush yards.
Carson has rushed to 3,502 yards and 24 touchdowns over his 49-year career. This is a 4.6-yard average. Spotrac.com has him listed with $9.5million in gross on-field earnings.
After returning to the NFL on a $5.75 million contract, Penny, who was the NFL’s leading rusher over the last five weeks of last year, will be Seattle’s primary runningback. Injuries have prevented him from playing in 30 of his 69 career games, including the playoffs. This, along with Carson’s uncertain future was what led to the Seahawks drafting Walker 41st overall.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler contributed this report.