Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls took the league by storm his rookie season, as he led Seattle's rushing attack with 830 yards and scored a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.
Seattle lost the young star running back in Week 14 with a fractured ankle, but he is expected to take over the lead role in 2016. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch's agent confirmed his client's retirement from the league earlier this offseason, which has only put more concern on Rawls' health and recovery.
The Seahawks' undrafted running back did not require surgery on his fractured ankle, but he has not been able to run since suffering the injury in December. Rawls gave Seahawks fans a sigh of relief on Thursday when he announced, "I'll be running soon."
The injury was reportedly as bad as it could get without needing surgery, but Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll said last month that he is hopeful that Rawls will be ready for training camp. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound running back proved himself an explosive force in his rookie season, as he showed his ability to get past defenders at the second level but also the ability to break tackles in the open field.
The Seahawks re-signed running back Christine Michael last month, and his addition gives Seattle's running game some insurance in case Rawls suffers any setbacks between now and Week One. The former second round draft pick was traded to the Cowboys at the beginning of the 2015 season but never found his footing in Dallas and ended up landing on the Redskins' practice squad. Seattle eventually picked Michael back up as free agent in December and used him heavily down the stretch of the season.
In both the regular season finale and the Wild Card round of the playoffs Michael rushed for 172 yards on 38 carries and proved himself a viable option as Seattle's second or third running back. The Seahawks may look to target a running back in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft but have multiple needs they need to fill this offseason, particularly on their offensive line.
The Seahawks have been one of the best teams in the NFL since the arrival of Carroll in 2010 and are looking to continue to build a strong young roster as they look to be consistent contenders for many years to come.
