Running back Fred Jackson has reportedly agreed to terms with the Seattle Seahawks for a one-year contract and the team is reportedly going to waive injured running back Robert Turbin, according to a report from NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
Pete Carroll and the Seahawks revealed that Robert Turbin had suffered a high-ankle sprain in a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. "It's a significant ankle sprain and we have to see what that means," said Carroll via Seahawks reporter Tony Drovetto.
Fred Jackson visited with the Seahawks this past Tuesday, and according to Rapoport, Jackson agreed to a deal with the Seahawks Friday evening.
Jackson will be teaming back up with former Bills teammate Marshawn Lynch. Jackson is moving to a team that has been dominant the past couple of season, and will likely be a nice change of environment compared to continually struggling in Buffalo.
Last season Jackson rushed for 525 yards and scored two touchdowns, which was down from his 2013 season when he scored nine touchdowns for the Bills. The Seahawks are likely to use Jackson for passing downs as he is a back who can catch the ball on third down scenarios. Last season with the Bills, Jackson had 66 catches for 500 yards.
Turbin would have been going into his fourth season in Seattle as the team drafted him back in 2012. It's been hard for Turbin to get time behind the dominant Lynch, but he has down well averaging four yards per carry through his first three seasons in Seattle. The only issue is that Turbin has yet to see the end zone on a rushing play, and that may not be all his fault, as Lynch tends to get the carries near the redzone.
The decision seems more tactical as Jackson fits the role better as a backup running back to Lynch, and is more acclimated to being a receiving running back unlike Turbin. Some team will likely pick up Turbin, but his main concern will likely be healing his ankle to get back on a field somewhere.
Both Lynch and Jackson started their careers together in Buffalo in 2007. They played three full seasons together, and the duo will set to take the field together for the first time since 2010 when the Seahawks gear up for NFC West rival the St. Louis Rams.
