Seahawks undrafted rookie running back Thomas Rawls exploded onto the NFL scene with a huge game against the Chicago Bears this past September when he rushed for 104 yards on just 16 carries. Seattle is expecting big things from the 22-year-old running back heading into his second season but will make sure that he is a 100 percent healthy before returning to the field after suffering a fractured ankle in Week 14.
Former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch's agent has confirmed his client's retirement from the league, making Rawls the top guy heading into the 2016 season. The Seahawks will likely look to target a running back in the draft, but they should be focused on their offensive line, as that is their biggest need heading into next season.
Rawls announced last week that he would be "running soon," exciting many Seattle fans. The Seahawks young running back gave Seahawks fans another reason to be excited for the 2016 season, as he announced that he is planning to "be ready for camp."
"I'm just taking it day by day," Rawls said. "I'm getting better. I'm walking on my own, I'm doing a lot of good things, and my recovery is coming very quickly, so I'm looking forward to being out there very soon." In his rookie season, Rawls rushed for 830 yards and scored four touchdowns while also catching nine passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
It will be interesting to watch how the Seahawks use the talented young ball carrier in his second season, but Rawls said that he learned a ton in one season in the NFL, especially from playing with a talent like Lynch.
"Just all of his knowledge about the game, on and off the field," Rawls said. "Making good business decisions, working on my lateral movements, trying to create holes on my own as far as running the ball and things of that nature and just learning so much from him. And not just him, but other good guys. Like I said, I play on a team of future Hall of Famers, Pro Bowl guys, just different characteristics of different men and great aspects of their lives and just taking so much from the spectrum."
