Newly acquired Seahawks running back Fred Jackson will play "a lot" this weekend against the St. Louis Rams, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
"He'll play a lot. He ran the whole offense today. I don't know how he got it all done, but he got it done today so I would think he'll be ready to go," said Seattle head coach Pete Carroll.
Jackson is likely to have an impact this weekend, and especially keep an eye on how Carroll and the Seahawks use him on third downs.
In Buffalo last season Jackson had 66 receptions for 501 yards, while Marshawn Lynch for Seattle had 37 receptions for 367 yards. Now obviously Jackson is not better then Lynch, but in certain scenarios he fits a role better. Look for Jackson to be big on third down passing situations this season.
"That's the thought four us, that he could be a really effective third down guy," said Carroll.
This is a reunion of sorts for Lynch and Jackson, as they played three full seasons together in Buffalo.
Carroll said that Lynch got the word out to the team and that he really trusted Jackson and knew he was a terrific team member, according to the Seattle Times. The two should provide the Seahawks with a dynamic backfield, and truly have two different set of strengths.
Jackson is 34 years old this season but doesn't always show it. "Well, he's a unique player," said Carroll in regards to Jackson's age.
In Jackson's last preseason game with the Bills he rushed for 48 yards on five carries with a touchdown. The Seahawks weren't the only team reportedly interested in him, as the Patriots were interested as well.
The question will be if Jackson fits into the Seahawks' system with ease, and apparently Carroll thinks he will.
"He's been battling his whole life to prove it, and I think it's a guy that really fits in and will fit in with the makeup of this team," said Carroll.
Jackson will likely get on the field Sunday, and whether he plays a lot or not depends on the scenario of the game. Expect to see Jackson on specific third down packages, with roll-out passes or screens, where he could prove to be a valuable weapon for Seattle.
