Chris Carson came into the season as the Seattle Seahawks' main ball carrier. This has remained true through 13 games. He has carried the ball 246 times for 1,057 yards and five touchdowns. He will have to take his game to another level when the Seahawks take on the Carolina Panthers.
Rashaad Penny has not been used much this season. He has just 65 carries and eight receptions, but he has been gaining traction in recent weeks. In Week 12, Penny finished with 129 rushing yards and a touchdown. He followed that up the following week with 74 yards and another touchdown. Over those two games, Penny had 29 carries and was just two behind Carson at 31.
Unfortunately for Penny and Seattle, he suffered a torn ACL that will cause him to miss the rest of the season. Seattle's need for Carson to step up goes well beyond this week and into the postseason.
It is Time for Carson to Takeover
Carson has been the workhorse of the Seahawks this season. He has had seven games with 20 or more carries this season and is third in the league in that category while being seventh in rushing yards. Carson has been a nice complement to Russell Wilson who has been an MVP candidate all season long.
One problem that Carson has dealt with is fumbles. He began the season with a fumble in each of the first three games of the season. He has totaled seven on the season and the team has lost four of them. Seattle has addressed the issue but has full confidence in Carson's ability to carry the load for the team.
Carson has also been a weapon in the passing game. He has 35 catches for 242 yards and two touchdowns. The third-year running back has logged a catch in every game but one this season. This gives Wilson another pass-catching weapon. This is something that Seattle has needed all season long.
Even though Carson has been the featured back, the emergence of Penny was beneficial to the team. This gave defenses another player to game plan for and another weapon to worry about. Seattle had the ability to add another element with Penny.
Penny also gave Carson some much-needed rest and took the pressure off. With Penny now sidelined, Carson will need to carry the load even more, which is something he is more than capable of doing.
Carson will be one of the main X-Factors for the Seahawks if they want to make a run through the NFC to the Super Bowl.
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