An abundance of running backs leaves the Seattle Seahawks plenty to experiment with in the team’s first preseason game against the newly dubbed Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night.
It seems that Thomas Rawls will be the Seahawks starting running back after working with the first team throughout camp.
SIGN UP to watch Seahawks-Chargers, and every other NFL game this season on DAZN
The 24-year-old often filled the Seahawks’ supporting role when Marshawn Lynch was the team's top running back, but with Lynch gone, Rawls is attempting to build off a down year where he saw his total rushing decrease by 481 yards — he missed four games as well.
Despite the increased first-team workload, there is no guarantee that Rawls will open up the 2017 season as the teams’ lead running back. Rawls isn’t expected to play much against the Chargers on Sunday, and head coach Pete Carroll announced that veteran Eddie Lacy would make his Seahawks’ debut.
“Eddie’s able to play,” Carroll told reporters on Friday. “He’s raring to go.”
Eddie Lacy popping the sled #HulkMode pic.twitter.com/nvpjuIiWW6
— Nick Krupke (@NickKrupke) August 9, 2017
Lacy became the teams most notable signing during free agency. After missing the final 11 games of the 2016 season following ankle surgery, the Packers parted ways with Lacy, abruptly ending his four-year stay in Green Bay. Lacy played a big role in both the running and passing game with the Packers. He amassed over 3,435 yards on the ground and added 900 in the air in four years.
Since then, Lacy has been determined to return to his old form that led him to firmly grasp a starting role for so many years.
“I’m very motivated to prove myself,” Lacy told Seahawks.com when he signed in March. “I know what I’m able to do. I just can’t wait to get my chance.”
Lacy has often been criticized because of a battle with his weight. So, the Seahawks added an incentive to Lacy’s contract. If Lacy is able to reach a target weight each month, the 27-year-old will make $55,000 each time.
MORE: New Seahawks RB Eddie Lacy packed on more than 30 pounds
In May, Lacy narrowly beat the 255 lbs. mark, weighing in at 253. Now with training camp in full gear, Lacy successfully cashed in at two of his weigh-ins so far. That’s over $110,000 in bonuses.
With the Seahawks, Lacy helps form a three-headed monster with Rawls and C.J. Prosise. Even though Prosise will cut into Lacy’s receptions while Rawls will force a committee, Lacy is still expected to thrive for as long as he remains healthy. For now, Lacy gives the Seahawks what they haven’t had on their two Super Bowl contending teams — an immensely diverse backfield that could rely on the ‘next man up’ mantra against its opponents.
Breaking Ground
Nearly 24 hours after an LA Galaxy soccer match, the StubHub Center will host its first ever NFL game when the Seahawks head to Carson, CA on Sunday night.
When the NFL announced that the then-San Diego Chargers would relocate to Los Angeles, the Chargers would play at StubHub Center for the next two seasons. In July, the Chargers said that the opening date for their next stadium has been pushed back another year.
The stadium seats roughly 30,000 when the Chargers take the field — an added 3,000 increase from the Galaxy.
The nosebleeds @ StubHub pic.twitter.com/ZB1AZWwX3G
— Bolts in SoCal (@BoltsGuru) August 6, 2017
Capacity, though, is small by NFL standards; and it is a unique situation for a football team to share a stadium with a soccer club.