There aren't many bigger what-might-have-been stories in the modern NFL than that of former Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny. After playing his college ball at San Diego State, Seattle picked him near the end of the first round of the 2018 draft class.
Penny appeared in 14 games as a rookie but didn't make much of an impact, totaling just 419 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Then injuries began to take their toll. Penny only appeared in 13 games over the next two seasons and it started to look like Pete Carroll had made another all-time bust of a pick in the first round.
Penny finally had his breakthrough moment down the stretch of the 2021 season. When injuries had decimated the Seahawks' running back room, Penny stepped up and exploded onto the scene, finishing the year with 749 yards and six touchdowns despite not getting significant playing time until Week 13. In the end he tied Josh Allen for the league lead with 6.3 yards per rushing attempt.
The following season Penny picked up where he left off, getting off to a hot start the first month of the 2022 campaign. However, the injury bug bit him again in a bad way in Week 5 when he suffered another season-ending injury against the Saints.
That was about all she wrote. Penny spent last season with the Eagles but only saw 11 carries all year. This offseason Penny signed with the Panthers, but we just learned that he has been placed on the reserve/retired list from Adam Schefter at ESPN.
Panthers placed veteran RB Rashaad Penny on the reserve/retired list Tuesday. The 28-year-old Penny played five years for the Seahawks and spent last season with the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/1Aebe9VPuU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 30, 2024
This is a very sad way for such a promising career to end. While it took a long time for his talent to finally shine through, it's clear he had the makings of a superstar rusher in him - but he just couldn't stay healthy.
Hopefully Penny has more luck doing whatever comes next for him.
