In a shocking move, the Seahawks are saying good night to The Awakening.
With Thomas Rawls ready to return from injury, Seattle has waived running back Christine Michael.
The move comes as a surprise only because Michael was Seattle's primary ballcarrier for the bulk of the 2016 season. With Rawls often sidelined with a leg injury, and the Seahawks cycling through backs (C.J. Spiller, Alex Collins) every other week, Michael was the one constant.
The fourth-year back started seven of nine games and led Seattle with 117 carries, 469 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns; he was also a top-five target for Russell Wilson out of the backfield (20 rec, 96 yards). His carries, however, had diminished over the past two weeks.
Rapoport added that the move has nothing to do with any off-the-field drama and was strictly a football decision. This implies that not only is Rawls expected to be back in Week 11 taking starting carries, but also that C.J. Prosise replaced Michael as Seattle's preferred second back.
Prosise has come on as a dual-threat force over the last three weeks. He paced Seattle's ground game against New England on Sunday night to the tune of 66 yards on 17 totes, while Michael earned but five carries. Prosise was also used effectively in the slot as a vertical receiving threat, hauling in one impressive wheel route for a gain of 38 yards en route to a 87-yard receiving night.
So Seattle will move on with Rawls, Prosise and recently-elevated Troymaine Pope, and without Michael, unless the latter sneaks by the waiver wire, which is unlikely. Though he may be hampered by a hamstring injury that landed him on the Week 10 injury report, we'd be surprised if a running back-poor playoff hopeful didn't take a chance on Michael -- ahem, Giants, Vikings, Ravens, etc.
UPDATE: Michael was claimed off waivers Wednesday by the Green Bay Packers, a source informed of the situation told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
