The Seattle Seahawks have one of the worst rushing offenses in the NFL. They are ranked 30th in attempts, 27th in rushing yards, 19th in rushing touchdowns, 21st in yards per carry, and 23rd in rushing first downs.
The Seahawks addressed their running back position by signing SaRodorick Thompson Jr. to their practice squad.
The Seattle Seahawks running back played college football at Texas Tech
SaRodorick Thompson Jr. committed to play college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders for the 2018 season. Thompson appeared in four games during his true freshman season, recording 105 rushing yards on 25 carries and three rushing touchdowns. He also has two receptions for 10 yards. He didn’t play for the rest of the season so he could redshirt.
Thompson took over as the starting running back in his redshirt freshman season, recording 765 rushing yards on 160 carries and 12 rushing touchdowns. He also had 39 receptions for 154 yards. He was an honorable All-Big 12 mention.
Thompson was the starting running back during his redshirt sophomore season, recording 610 rushing yards on 109 carries and eight rushing touchdowns. He also had 21 receptions for 124 yards. He was an honorable All-Big 12 mention for the second straight year.
Thompson missed the first two games because of the injury he suffered during the previous spring. He was the number two back behind Tahj Brooks during his redshirt junior season. Thompson had 500 rushing yards on 107 carries and ten rushing touchdowns. He also had six receptions for 113 yards.
Thompson split reps with Brooks in his redshirt senior season, recording 684 rushing yards on 139 carries and seven rushing touchdowns. He also had 23 receptions for 119 yards and one receiving touchdown. Thompson declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Thompson’s pre-draft projection
Thompson ran a 4.67 40-yard Dash. NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein had an interesting scouting report on the Texas Tech running back:
“Thompson possesses several pieces of the puzzle, but they fail to create a consistent product on the field. He’s tough and strong, but he would benefit from a more aggressive approach. Indecisiveness and dancing will cost him yardage against faster, more talented fronts in the NFL. He’ll likely need to show he can get downhill and utilize his power to finish if he’s going to stick on an NFL roster. Thompson has limited special teams experience, but he has the demeanor to contribute via that phase of the game. If he can test well, the measurables and ability to play on multiple downs could give him an advantage in a battle for a roster spot.”
Zierlein projected him to be an undrafted free agent.
Thompson’s journey to the NFL
SaRodorick Thompson Jr. went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. New Orleans signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 23 but released him on June 15.
Seattle signed him on July 31. Thompson competed for the final roster spot but was released during roster cuts.
Seattle later signed him to the practice squad and was elevated in Week 8. Seattle released him from the practice squad on October 31.
Now he’s back with the team.
Why does this move matter?
The Seattle Seahawks signing SaRodorick Thompson Jr. to the practice squad matters because their running game has struggled to stay healthy. Kenneth Walker III has missed the last two games due to an oblique injury, and Rookie Zach Charbonnet suffered a knee injury in their last game.
Walker and Charnonnet’s status for Week 14 hasn’t been determined.
Will Thompson be elevated for Week 14 and get significant playing time if neither Walker nor Charbonnet can make it?
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