Seahawks running back Rawls out for season with ankle injury
BALTIMORE – Seahawks rookie running back Thomas Rawls is out for the season after suffering a broken left ankle and torn ligaments during the first quarter of Sunday’s 35-6 victory over the Ravens.
Coach Pete Carroll said Rawls might not need surgery but added that, “He’s not going to make it back (this season).”
Rawls left the locker room on a golf cart with his left foot in a boot after the game.
He was hurt when he was tackled for a 3-yard loss by Baltimore’s Chris Canty near the end of Seattle’s first drive of the game.
An undrafted rookie, Rawls finishes the season with 830 yards and four touchdowns.
“Thomas has had a fantastic rookie season,” Carroll said. “He just exemplifies what we are all about – toughness and hard-nosed and committed and grit and all that kind of stuff, and we are going to really miss him.”
Recently acquired veteran DuJuan Harris and Fred Jackson stepped in for Rawls, but the running game was not the same without him. Harris had 42 yards on 18 carries and Jackson 15 on seven.
Carroll said the team might acquire another running back, adding, “We’ll wait and see” when asked what the team will do.
The Seahawks also hope for a speedy return from veteran Marshawn Lynch, who missed the past four games after having abdominal surgery. Lynch returned to Seattle this week to continue his rehab. Carroll said after the game it remains unclear when Lynch could return.
“We’ll see how Marshawn does,” Carroll said. “He was back in rehabbing with us. We’ll see where he is. He’s got a chance to get back. It’s all about getting back in shape and getting right.
”I don’t know what the timetable is at this point. Our trainers can’t tell yet. But that will be the next thing we will look to see how that works out.“
Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor also sat out the last three quarters Sunday because of what Carroll said was ”a bruised backside.“
But Carroll said Chancellor could be back next week against Cleveland at CenturyLink Field. Chancellor nodded and said, ”Yeah” when asked if he was all right as he left the locker room.