The Seahawks solidified their backfield depth over the weekend, signing veteran running back Fred Jackson Sunday night. Prior that move, the Seahawks had placed Robert Turbin on injured reserve and traded Christine Michael to Dallas, leaving just two running backs on the roster—Marshawn Lynch and undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls.
In Jackson, the Seahawks are adding a veteran who can take on a similar role to the one Turbin had in the offense over the past three seasons, serving as a reliable option to spell Lynch and also as someone who can be a third-down back who is skilled as a pass-catcher and in pass protection.
"I've asked him to really dig into the throwing game so that he can be a third-down guy for us," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said on his weekly radio show on 710 ESPN Seattle. "He's not going to have any trouble with the run game, he'll know what's going on there, he'll pick that up, but the pass-protection stuff is really what will tax him the most. He understands it, he's a good pass-pro guy and he's a terrific catcher, so that part is going to fit in really well, the security of that. We like Marshawn on third down, we like using him there, but he needs a break now and then, so I like to have a real steady guy going in. Without Turbo available to us—he was the stead guy to go in; Christine wasn't that guy to take that spot, and we don't want to put that on Thomas at this point—so it just seemed like it fit really well for us. We think it's going to be a good solid move, and we get a really classy kid to add to the roster."
Jackson, who was teammates with Lynch in Buffalo for four seasons before Lynch was traded to the Seattle in 2010, was released by the Bills last week.
Jackson, 34, has spent his entire nine-year career in Buffalo up until this point, rushing for 5,646 yards, and also has 2,640 career receiving yards. In 14 games last season, Jackson rushed for 525 yards and had 501 receiving yards. He visited the Seahawks for a physical shortly after being released.
In particular, the Seahawks like what Jackson can bring to the passing offense both as a pass-catcher and a blocker. That ability was evident last season when Jackson established career highs with 66 catches for 501 yards.
"He has been a very adept pass catcher, and a good pass protector," Carroll said last week when asked about Jackson's visit. "He has always been a good runner, he's got great feel and sense, had a big run in the game last week. He had a 40 yard run last week and scored a touchdown, but he's been a very adept pass receiver."
Some of the top Associated Press photos of the newest Seahawks runningback, Fred Jackson
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson (22) celebrates a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson (22) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. The Bills won 38-35. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates with a teammate after catching a late fourth quarter pass and run that puts the Bills at the one yard line to set up the winning score during the NFL week 3 football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 25, 2011 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game 34-31. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson #22 runs up the middle of the field with the football, 80 yards, for a touchdown in the first quarter, week six, during the NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills against the New York Giants on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants beat the Bills 27-24. (AP Photo/David Drapkin)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson runs a drill during the NFL football team's training camp in Pittsford, N.Y., Friday, July 29, 2011. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson takes a break during an informal football workout in Elma, N.Y., Monday, May 23, 2011. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) runs away from New York Giants Aaron Ross (31) and Deon Grant (34) for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) dives for the goal line as he catches a late fourth quarter pass and run that puts the Bills at the one yard line to set up the winning score during the NFL week 3 football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 25, 2011 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game 34-31. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) catches a late fourth quarter pass and run that puts the Bills at the one yard line to set up the winning score during the NFL week 3 football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 25, 2011 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game 34-31. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
ADVANCE FOR RELEASE SUNDAY, OCT. 23 - In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson looks on during NFL football practice in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills have dropped two of three to leave them with a still respectable 4-2 record entering their bye week off before returning Oct. 30 to "host" the Washington Redskins in Buffalo's annual home game at Toronto. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson gestures during NFL football practice in Orchard Park, N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) warms up before the NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates after running to the one yard line and setting up the winning score during the NFL week 3 football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 25, 2011 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game 34-31. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates his touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson celebrates defeating the Washington Redskins 23-0 in an NFL football game in Toronto on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) and Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyler Thigpen (4) watch from the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Bills 35-8. (AP Photo/ Lynne Sladky)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson (22) leaps over Green Bay Packers' Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) runs past Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw (91) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson (22) runs under pressure from Pittsburgh Steelers' Keenan Lewis (23) and Ryan Clark (25) during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) and Frank Summers (38) celebrate after Jackson rushed for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) goes airborne after being hit by St. Louis Rams free safety Quintin Mikell during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) reacts with fans after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) rushes against the New York Jets during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) runs against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
10ThingstoSeeSports - Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert, File)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) celebrates his touchdown in front of Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Terence Garvin (57) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
