RB Fred Jackson visits with Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. – Coach Pete Carroll said the Seahawks were interested in running back Fred Jackson the minute they heard he had been released by the Buffalo Bills on Monday.

But the idea of adding another running back made even more sense after the Seahawks revealed Tuesday that backup tailback Robert Turbin had suffered a high-ankle sprain Saturday in an exhibition game against the San Diego Chargers.

Carroll didn’t give a timeline on how long Turbin might be out. But high-ankle sprains often take weeks, if not longer, to heal fully.

“It’s a significant ankle sprain,” Carroll said. “We’re not sure what that means. He feels pretty good about it, but it definitely showed up in the MRI and all that.”

Jackson visited Seattle on Tuesday, and though there were reports that he might quickly sign, Carroll said after practice that the team had yet to make a decision. He said Jackson, 34, would take a physical and hinted that the team would need to get a better understanding of Turbin’s situation before deciding how to proceed.

“This is a visit for us,” Carroll said. “This isn’t a signing. … We love that he’s here and we are trying to get our ducks in a row for what may be necessary later on.”

Jackson had 525 rushing yards last season for Buffalo when he battled through a midseason ankle injury, and caught 66 passes for 501 yards. He left Buffalo as the third-leading rusher in franchise history behind Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson.

He began his career at Buffalo in 2006 and played alongside Marshawn Lynch from 2007 until Lynch was traded to Seattle early in the 2010 season. Carroll said the fact that Jackson and Lynch are good friends helps, but was not a key factor behind Seattle’s interest in Jackson. Instead, Carroll pointed to his skills, both running and receiving, as simply being something that could help the Seahawks.

“He’s just a heck of a football player,” Carroll said.