Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wasn’t kidding this week when he said rookie running back Christine Michael would get the ball early and often Thursday.
Starting running back Marshawn Lynch played just two plays in Seattle’s exhibition opener before giving way to Michael, the team’s second-round selection out of Texas A&M.
Michael got his share of opportunities in Seattle’s 31-10 win over the San Diego Chargers. He ran six times for 21 yards in the first half. In the second half, he turned it up a notch, carrying 10 times for 66 yards — including a 24-yard run — for a total of 89 yards on 16 carries.
“We weren’t going to get frustrated with what happened early, and just (kept) sticking to it,” Carroll said. “He bounced the ball well outside on his long run – had a couple of nice runs. He’s got a long way to go, but he ran hard, looked quick and made some guys miss. So I think it’s a very good first game for him.”
Michael may have moved ahead of Robert Turbin in the battle to be the primary backup to Lynch.
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