Reports: Rookie RB Rashaad Penny has broken finger, may miss up to a month

Just when he was making progress towards a more complete role, rookie Rashaad Penny apparently will be out of the Seahawks’ offense for a while.

Multiple reports Tuesday night cited league sources saying Penny has a broken finger. Ian Rapoport of league-owned NFL Network reported Penny was on his way to Philadelphia for surgery Wednesday morning and that the running back is expected to miss three to four weeks.

That would mean he’s not likely to play in Seattle’s opener Sept. 9 at Denver.

Penny left Monday’s practice before it ended. After it, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was asked if Penny was OK.

“I think so. Yeah, I think so,” Schottenheimer said. “I haven’t heard yet, but I think so.”

Penny left the practice after he completed an impressive pass-rush drill between running backs and charging linebackers. Penny twice stonewalled rookie fifth-round pick Shaquem Griffin, and also stopped undrafted rookie Jake Pugh. Penny was the only back in the drill to win each of his turns, and during it did not appear injured.

Penny has been focused this spring and summer in his Seattle debut on improving his pass blocking, something he rarely was asked to do while leading major-college football in rushing last season at San Diego State.

Without Penny, Chris Carson becomes an even clearer number-one running back than he already had asserted himself to be this month impressively coming back from a broken leg. Mike Davis, who started at the end of last season, stands to gain more chances with the starting offense in the final three preseason games beginning Saturday at the Los Angeles Chargers, while Penny is out.

In April, Penny became only the third running back the Seahawks drafted in the first round, after Curt Warner and Shaun Alexander.

This story was originally published August 14, 2018 at 10:42 PM.