Carroll: ‘We’ve seen it all along’ after JD McKissic’s breakout night in Seahawks’ win
Oct 2, 2017, 6:00 AM | Updated: 9:37 am
J.D. McKissic, who formerly played at receiver, offers the Seahawks a versatile option at RB. (AP)
(AP)
Running back J.D. McKissic was the unexpected star of the night for the Seahawks in their 46-18 win over the Colts Sunday, finishing the game with two touchdowns and 65 combined rushing and receiving yards.
At least, unexpected for some.
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“We’ve seen it all along,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after the game. “We’ve seen nothing but good stuff from him (and) he’s been a great kid – he just hasn’t had his shot yet.”
Cornerback Richard Sherman, quarterback Russell Wilson, and wide receiver Doug Baldwin echoed Carroll’s sentiment.
“As old school as it sounds, as rudimentary as it sounds, he is a ball player wherever you put him,” Sherman said. “He is one of those guys that is just a dog and on this team we have always appreciated and celebrated the uniqueness of players like him.”
“Honestly, like I always say to you guys – it’s no surprise. He puts the hard work in,” said Wilson.
Baldwin said he and his teammates have been lobbying for McKissic for weeks.
“I think he’s a ball player,” Baldwin said. “That’s what he does. He plays football and he’s phenomenal at it, obviously. We were excited for his success. I wasn’t surprised at all.”
Originally an undrafted rookie free agent, McKissic was with the Falcons before he was released and signed with the Seahawks. His versatility – he can play at receiver and running back as well as special teams – earned him a nod from Carroll and a spot on the Seahawks’ 53-man roster earlier this fall.
Sunday was his first time being activated for Seattle, filling in for an injured C.J. Prosise as the team’s third-down back, and it paid off for the offense.
McKissic’s first touchdown came in the third quarter. A deep, 33-yard pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to tight end Jimmy Graham put the Seahawks on the Colts’ 27-yard line. Wilson was sacked on the following play for a loss, but on second-and-13 handed the ball off to McKissic, who dodged Colts’ cornerback Nate Hairston and bounded 30 yards up the right side into the end zone.
“It felt amazing,” McKissic said after the game of the first touchdown. “I just wanted to run around and have fun with my teammates.
“I forgot to celebrate with the team. I wanted to run into the crowd and be with them. It was crazy. It’s something you dream of.”
In the fourth quarter, McKissic beat Colts’ linebacker Jon Bostic on the inside and caught a 27-yard pass near the pylon from Wilson between Bostic and safety Malik Hooker. The touchdown was the final score of the game.
Wilson and tight end Luke Willson also put up scores for the Seahawks, as did linebacker Bobby Wagner and cornerback Justin Coleman, who put up a pair of defensive touchdowns.
If Prosise continues to be sidelined with an ankle injury, McKissic will likely see more playing time when the Seahawks travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams next week.
