The ‘human’ side of all Rashaad Penny’s injuries, his chance to salvage a Seahawks career
In the first minutes of Rashaad Penny’s first full practice returning from his latest injury, he hugged Alex Collins.
It wasn’t a chic, bro-man, half hug, either. It was an earnest, I’m-really-glad-to-be-here clutch the Seahawks running backs shared on the field this week.
That’s because Penny is indeed really glad to be here.
“I’m just happy to be playing football again,” the team’s repeatedly injured first-round draft choice from 2018 said Friday.
Then the 25-year-old former college-football rushing leader at San Diego State thought of his many critics.
He thought of those who deride him for being a bust. They call him C.J. Penny, or Rashaad Prosise. Those are references to Seattle’s recently failed, always-hurt running back and draft pick C.J. Prosise. The team finally gave up on him in 2019 after four years of pain.
“I know many people, you know, like...,” Penny said, stopping short of acknowledging them.
“People don’t know what we actually go through. ...
“People forget we are human.
“I just try to shut the noise out, and just continue to focus on what I have to do.
“Some people don’t understand. And that’s fine.
“That’s why, now that I am available, I can show that. Again.”
‘I really try not to get hurt’
Penny’s reputation is well-earned.
He’s missed 38 of a possible 54 regular-season games in his NFL career. He has yet to start a game in his career, even though he’s been behind often-injured lead back Chris Carson.
To many, he’s another recent Seahawks top draft choice that’s done little.
It’s a tag Penny won’t shake, probably ever, in Seattle — even if he finishes this season playing the final 11 regular-season games without getting hurt yet again.
“I really try not to get hurt,” he said, with a small grin.
“I prepare the right way to do everything right. I thought losing the weight and coming in (this summer) and doing what I do was perfect for me this year.
“But I never let myself down. I always fought through, because it’s a mental game. I’m just thankful.”
Penny is returning from injured reserve to play, and maybe start, Monday night for the Seahawks (2-4) in their attempt to save a sinking season against the New Orleans Saints (3-2).
Penny is trying to save his career.
“I’d never been hurt a day in my life,” before the NFL, he said. “It sucks, because I never had that type of test.”
Penny says he got through that test with family. Little guys, in particular.
“Me waking up knowing I’ve got two nephews that love me so much, they know I love football and will do whatever to get back on the field, that’s all I just give my thanks to,” Penny said. “They played a huge role in me actually being motivated and getting up every day and saying, ‘Forget about it. I love this game, and I want to do everything I can so they can see me play, and my family and friends.’”
After a promising summer...
Penny began this season lighter, down to 220 pounds. He said it was his lightest since he was at Norwalk High School in southern California.
He was primed for a prove-it year, to show why he was a first-round pick. His rookie contract ends with the 2021 season.
In May, Seattle declined the fifth-year option on Penny’s contract. That option would have guaranteed Penny all $1.95 million of his salary this year, plus another $4.52 million for 2022.
That’s $6.5 million too much to a guy who hasn’t been able to stay on the field.
Penny began this season as what he was supposed to have been each week each year since Seattle drafted him in 2018: the number two to Carson, who “is like a big brother to me,” Penny said.
Then, after just two runs for 8 yards and seven total plays on offense in the season opener Sept. 12 at Indianapolis, Penny got hurt again. A strained calf became his latest of five injuries in four seasons.
How did he get hurt this time?
“I don’t (know), truly,” he said, exasperated by the thought.
“Like I said...I don’t come in here to miss games, miss practice. I really try to be available. It’s just, sometimes your body says no.
“And, unfortunately, my body’s been saying no to me, a lot.”
The Seahawks’ medical staff was wary of putting Penny back on the field in September only to lose him for most of another season. So he missed the next two games. Seattle put him on injured reserve Oct. 2, even though at the time coach Pete Carroll said Penny was physically able to play if he absolutely had to.
“That’s was definitely the most frustrating thing, when you feel good and you are ready to play again, and you are ready to do anything to help contribute to win,” Penny said. “But, I have to trust their word. They’ve been here longer. They know what they are doing.”
They are used to it with him.
A long road
Months after the Seahawks used the 27th-overall choice in 2018 to select Penny — five spots before Baltimore picked next years’ unanimous NFL MVP Lamar Jackson — Penny broke a bone in his hand. The injury came during a pass-blocking drill early in his rookie training camp.
Later that 2018 season, after his first career 100-yard rushing game, he missed two games with a sprained knee.
In September 2019, a strained thigh and hamstring kept him out two games.
Then in late November he was running like Seattle drafted him to be. He had 29 carries, 203 yards and two rushing touchdowns in consecutive games, wins at Philadelphia and against Minnesota in 2019.
The following week, Dec. 8, 2019, Penny caught a pass in the left flat from Russell Wilson while playing against his hometown Rams in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. He went for 16 yards, then dropped to the turf as L.A.’s Taylor Rapp made a leg tackle. Penny had a devastating knee injury. He’d torn the major ligaments in his knee and needed reconstructive surgery.
He missed 12 months, all the way to last December. He played in only three games of the 2020 season.
“Last year was pretty hard for me, dealing with the ACL and trying to recover, and just getting back to playing football,” Penny said.
“I think that’s the whole moral of it: me being on the field and being available.”
He missed five of Seattle’s first six games of 2021. He’s returning Monday night.
“I’m ready to go,” he said, chuckling. “I’m revved up. I’m excited.”
The Seahawks need him. Carson is on injured reserve. He has a long-term neck issue. No one knows when he may play again.
Collins romped to Seattle’s first 100-yard rushing day in two years, since Carson’s, last weekend filling in as the start in the Seahawks’ loss at Pittsburgh. But he was on the sidelines unavailable for overtime because of hip and glute injuries.
Carroll downplayed those are “wear-and-tear” issues at the start of this week, but Collins hasn’t practiced since the coach said that.
Fill-in quarterback Geno Smith could use a viable running game as Seattle plays on for the first time in 10 years without Wilson. Wilson is on injured reserve for at least two more games.
“He is raring to go. There won’t be any restrictions on him, unless the workload builds up on him,” Carroll said of Penny. “It’s extremely important that he comes back to us now and helps out in the running game and all that. I’m really excited for him.”
Penny said all this time away from the physical aspect of football have resulted in him growing mentally, become much stronger in his mind.
Is his final chance with the Seahawks?
“I don’t see it that way,” he said. “I think I’ve got enough games to prove what I can do.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2021 at 4:10 PM.
