RENTON -- Despite losing a fumble in each of the Seahawks' first three games this season, the team is remaining steadfast in their support of running back Chris Carson.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll made it clear on Wednesday that their support for Carson would not waiver despite his ball security issues early this season.
"You’re going to see absolute support for our guy," Carroll said. "He’s a great football player. We love him. You’re going to see what that looks like. There’s been a lot of players over the years, through the ages that have had issues at times. They put it to rest and it’s behind them and all that. That’s what’s going to happen here. You will not see me waver in my support for Chris and belief in the guy as a football player. That’s been the conversation. That’s the only message he needs to hear from me. He’s heard it from his teammates as well. We expect him to tear it up."
It's not as though the concept of holding onto the football is a new one for Carson or any running back at the NFL level. With Carroll and his "it's all about the philosophy" being of paramount importance in the Seahawks' organization, it's not a topic that is taken lightly. It's also not a point that needs to beaten into a pulp either. Carson knows protecting the football is a requirement of the position. The only thing to do is focus on moving forward.
"You got to move on from it. It happens. You got to move on, keep going," Carson said.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said they know it's just a blip in the road for Carson and that it's just unfortunate the fumbles have come in such short succession.
"It's going to pass," Schottenheimer said. "We don't have any doubt about that. We totally support him. Nobody feels worse about it than he does. The biggest thing for us is we know he's a warrior, we know he's a great player. He'll bounce back."
Carson said he appreciated having the support of Carroll, quarterback Russell Wilson and the rest of his teammates in the aftermath of the three lost fumbles.
"It shows a lot. It's a lot of love. I appreciate him for it. ... The support has always been there," Carson said.
Gary Jennings remains with Seahawks, Bryan Mone waived to create spot for Adrian Colbert:
Fourth-round wide receiver Gary Jennings is still with the Seahawks. Exactly how that reality came to be is far less clear than that statement suggests.
Jennings was not on hand for practice with the team on Wednesday and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that Jennings was being waived. The Seahawks were looking to promote safety Adrian Colbert from their practice squad to the active roster and needed an open roster spot to do so. That move was officially announced on Thursday afternoon. However, defensive tackle Bryan Mone was the player released and not Jennings, who had posted a message on his Twitter account stating "God has never failed me yet" amid his absence from the team on Wednesday.
The addition of defensive end Malik Carney to the practice squad filled the spot created by the released of defensive end Jachai Polite. However, cornerback Linden Stephens also took part in the team's practice yesterday. Stephens would have taken the spot created by the promotion of Colbert to the active roster.
So Jennings was essentially residing in a roster limbo on Wednesday before returning to practice with the team on Thursday. The Seahawks were able to change course and rescind their waiver submission of Jennings and swap him out for Mone prior to the league's 1 p.m. transaction deadline on Thursday.
However the mechanics actually worked, Jennings was going to be waived until he wasn't and then Mone was waived instead so that Colbert could be promoted to the active roster.
Injury Report
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 22: Chris Carson #32 of the Seattle Seahawks fumbles the ball in a play that result in a 33 yard touchdown fumble recovery by Vonn Bell #24 of the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter during their game at CenturyLink Field on September 22, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)