With Carson, Prosise and Penny out for season, rookie Travis Homer suddenly top option in Seahawks backfield
When Sunday afternoon’s game started, Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Travis Homer was listed third on the depth chart.
By the midway point of the Seahawks’ eventual 27-13 loss to a five-win Arizona team at CenturyLink Field, he was suddenly at the top.
Homer has been the fourth, rarely used option in Seattle’s backfield for most of his rookie season, sitting behind more tenured rushers in Chris Carson — a top-five running back in the NFL entering the day — Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise.
But, Penny underwent ACL surgery Friday morning, and is out for the rest of Seattle’s season. And Prosise left for the locker room late in the second quarter Sunday, at about the same time Carson was undergoing evaluation underneath the privacy tent on the sideline.
Neither returned to the game, or even to the sideline, in the second half. Both were ruled by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll following the game as lost for the season — Carson with a hip injury, and Prosise with a broken arm.
Carson was still undergoing tests, Carroll said, but the likelihood is the Seahawks’ leading rusher — who has piled up 1,230 yards and seven touchdowns on 278 carries this season, and led Seattle on the ground Sunday with 40 yards on eight attempts — will not take another snap this season.
And so entered Homer on Seattle’s final drive of the first half.
“It’s a sad thing to see,” Homer said. “But, I’ve just got to try to do what I can for the team.”
Seattle’s only option at tailback the rest of the way against the Cardinals, Homer finished the game with 16 yards on five carries, a team-high six catches for 26 yards on eight targets, and continued his usual role on special teams.
“I thought Homer did a good job stepping in, to be honest with you,” Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said. “He’s a great running back. He’s been taking all the necessary steps to be on his protection. He did a good job on that. He had a couple nice runs. He did a good job catching the ball out of the backfield.”
It was the most extended look the Seahawks have had at their rookie running back in meaningful games. Homer converted a fake punt attempt with a 29-yard scamper around the right end in a win over Minnesota three weeks ago, and had two carries for 7 yards in a win over Carolina last week. But, that was it for his offensive experience entering the day.
Homer’s a regular on Seattle’s special teams unit, averaging 23.5 yards on four returns, and he has a fumble recovery, but before Sunday he’d taken just seven offensive snaps.
“He worked his tail off today,” Carroll said. “He had to carry the whole load, as well as (play) special teams. He’s a focal point guy on (special) teams as well. Still the personal protector on the punt team, and all of that, so he did a great job just to get through the game and finish for us.”
Carson’s final rushing attempt came on a 7-yard gain with 8:38 left in the second quarter. He didn’t return for Seattle’s ensuing third-and-1 attempt — on which Prosise was ultimately dropped for a 2-yard loss on a day little went right for the Seahawks’ offense — drawing some questions as to why.
Prosise took his final snap on Seattle’s next offensive drive, picking up 8 yards on second-and-10 before a vicious hit from Budda Baker.
Seattle eventually punted for the fifth consecutive drive, and Homer was alone in the backfield after that.
“You’ve just got to be ready for everything,” Homer said. “You’ve got to make sure you know the playbook.”
Homer said he felt “more tensed up” taking over the lead role in the backfield than he has in more limited offensive opportunities so far this season, but grew more comfortable as the game progressed.
“Hats off to Travis for coming in and stepping up big for us,” Seahawks tackle Germain Ifedi said. “We’re going to trust whoever is in there. ... He did everything he was supposed to do. He came in the huddle confident and ready, clear eyes, he didn’t look nervous at all.
“We’re excited for him and we’re excited for him to continue to get opportunities.”
Ifedi said losing each of Seattle’s top three rushers within a month of each other — Penny two weeks ago against the Rams, and now Carson and Prosise against the Cardinals — is challenging.
“Whenever our guys go out (with injuries) it’s so tough, because they’ve put in so much time and work,” Ifedi said. “We’re going forward hoping those guys are OK. If they’re not, just praying that they have the strength to endure whatever they’re dealing with.
“But, it’s tough. Those are good players. It’s tough when you lose good players in a game.”
The Seahawks will surely be active in the coming days looking to restore some depth in their backfield before next week’s showdown against the 49ers for the NFC West title, and Carroll confirmed as much Sunday.
“We have to get scrambling,” he said. “(Seahawks general manager John Schneider’s) got to get to work and figure out what we’re doing next. That’s a lot of game for Homer to have to play by himself. So obviously we will make some moves here, and figure some stuff out.”
Meanwhile, after spending most of his rookie season observing Seattle’s offense from the sideline, Homer heads into the final week of the regular season with a sudden boost in responsibility.
“He’ll be ready to roll,” Wilson said.
