Seahawks notes: Injury to Brandon Cottom another blow to backfield

RENTON – Injuries are piling up for the Seahawks, especially in their backfield.

The latest was to Brandon Cottom, and it sounds serious to hear coach Pete Carroll talk about it. Cottom had been working as Seattle’s No. 1 fullback, but that could change with what Carroll said Thursday is an apparent Achilles injury.

“It was one of those things just on-air, foot in the ground and bam,” Carroll said. “The initial thought is that he did hurt his Achilles. It’s a devastating injury for guys, if that’s what it is. I don’t know.”

The Seahawks were already hurting in their backfield before Thursday’s practice, with Thomas Rawls still on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and rookie C.J. Prosise out with a hamstring injury. Another rookie, Zac Brooks, sat out Thursday with a sore hamstring of his own.

That prompted Seattle to re-sign running back Cameron Marshall among several roster moves that were announced Thursday morning. And with rookie Tre Madden dealing with a shoulder injury, the team has moved former Huskies defensive tackle Taniela Tupou back to fullback, where he had worked earlier in the offseason.

Christine Michael and rookie Alex Collins are the last men standing in Seattle’s backfield. Carroll acknowledged that the injury situation there is “a little bit of a concern.”

“We have to manage this really well,” he said. “Christine Michael is doing a great job. We’ve got to be careful not overworking him. He’s just been on the money throughout. So a little bit concerned. We picked up a guy today and we’ve just got to make sure we do a nice job.”

As for Rawls, Carroll said he and tight end Jimmy Graham are “really pushing hard” as they try to work to their way off PUP. He added: “We’re about going almost day-to-day with those guys now. We’re getting really close.” Carroll also confirmed that Rawls had surgery on the ankle he broke last season, which was previously unclear.

Here are some more personnel notes from Thursday:

• In addition to re-signing Marshall, the Seahawks also brought back strong safety Keenan Lambert and released long-snapper Drew Ferris. The team placed defensive end Chris Clemons on the Reserve/Retired list. Marshall was with the team earlier in the offseason. Lambert was with Seattle last offseason as an undrafted rookie. He’s strong safety Kam Chancellor’s half-brother.

• Several players sat out Thursday, some with what Carroll called “little nicks” and others with what he said were soft-tissue injuries. Linebacker Brock Coyle’s sounded like it could be serious. Carroll called it an oblique strain and said, “We’re going to see what that means.” Wide receiver Doug Baldwin missed his second straight practice; Carroll said he got the back of his leg stepped on but should be fine. Carroll didn’t seemed concerned about Chancellor, either, saying he’s got “a little bit of a groin thing that doesn’t seem to be an issue.” Defensive end Frank Clark (tight calf) also sat Thursday. Carroll said backup tight end Ronnie Shields sustained an apparent Achilles injury of his own.

• Ferris’ release leaves Nolan Frese as the only long-snapper on Seattle’s roster, but Carroll said former Seahawk Clint Gresham has been staying ready and indicated that he’s still on the team’s radar. Gresham has been a free agent since Seattle released him earlier in the offseason.