Seahawks notebook: Thomas Rawls will still play upon Marshawn Lynch return

RENTON – Thomas Rawls won’t be going away whenever Marshawn Lynch comes back.

Not completely, at least. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday that the rookie running back has played well enough while filling in the last three weeks to remain a part of Seattle’s backfield mix once Lynch returns from his hamstring injury, which could be as soon as this week.

“We’re going to feel really comfortable about him in the two spot, coming in off the bench,” Carroll said. “We do (rotate) our guys quite a bit. There’s no reason for him not to play. He’s done a great job for us and I’d say he’s probably exceeded our expectations at this point. So we’re happy to have him and we’re going to put him in there.”

Rawls has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of his three starts, including Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati in which he rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown. That was the biggest rushing day by a Seahawk since 2006, and it ranks second in franchise history among rookies.

Rawls was running so well Sunday that his absence on the Seahawks’ first possession of overtime led to questions about why Seattle chose not to ride the hot hand with the game on the line. Carroll noted Wednesday that the Seahawks were in hurry-up mode – their preferred pace in overtime – and that veteran Fred Jackson is the team’s running back in that situation.

Carroll said Lynch worked out without issue Monday and that he should be on track to practice by Thursday, which would be good sign for his chances of playing Sunday against Carolina. Carroll noted that even when healthy, Seattle – like most teams – rotates its running backs regularly throughout games. Robert Turbin, for instance, averaged about 15 snaps per game while backing up Lynch from 2012-14, according to data from Football Outsiders.

Rawls could be in for a similar workload once Lynch returns, possibly a greater one given how effective he’s been this season.

O-line’s improvement

Carroll confirmed what anyone who watched Sunday’s game would have assumed, which is that it was the best that Seattle’s embattled offensive line has played this season.

“Without question,” Carroll said.

The pass protection was far from perfect as Russell Wilson was sacked four times, bringing Seattle’s season total to a league-high 22 through five games. But the Seahawks averaged 6.7 yards per carry and Rawls’ rushing touchdown was their first of the season.

“The tempo coming off the football was really good. We moved the line of scrimmage well. We were way more consistent with our pickups and our targeting,” Carroll said. “We adjusted to a couple things that happened during the game really well. We were pretty sharp at the line of scrimmage in terms of getting off the ball together and all of that.”

Chancellor not at fault on TDs

Carroll said that contrary to how it may have appeared, strong safety Kam Chancellor was not at fault for the breakdowns in coverage that led to Cincinnati’s two passing touchdowns, both of which were scored by tight end Tyler Eifert on similar-looking plays.

Carroll explained that Seattle was in zone both times and that the defender who was responsible for the area in which Eifert caught the passes didn’t get there in time. Carroll didn’t identify the guilty party, only saying that it wasn’t Chancellor.

“His assignment was to go where he went,” Carroll said.

Notes

• Carroll said the quad strain that knocked DT Jordan Hill out of Sunday’s game could keep him out for a couple weeks and noted that Seattle’s depth at that position could be an issue if Demarcus Dobbs doesn’t return this week from the shoulder injury that has sidelined him the last two games.

• Carroll was unsure about the timetable for LB Bobby Wagner, who strained his pectoral muscle Sunday, but said he doesn’t believe it will be a long-term issue. “I would think from what I hear maybe it’s a couple weeks if it doesn’t respond,” Carroll said. “But he might be able to play this week, too, so we’ll wait and see.”

• CB Tharold Simon will have surgery on the toe that he previously dislocated. Simon was placed on season-ending injured reserve Saturday.

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