With two running backs out with injury this week, the Seahawks elevated running back Josh Johnson from the practice squad ahead of Monday night's game at Washington. Cornerback Gavin Heslop was also elevated from the practice squad, his second elevation in as many weeks.
Johnson, who signed with the Seahawks out of Louisiana Monroe as an undrafted free agent in May, will give the Seahawks depth behind Alex Collins and DeeJay Dallas. Seattle will be without Rashaad Penny (hamstring) and Travis Homer (calf), both of whom were ruled out on Saturday due to injury.
While injuries and a COVID-19 shortened season limited Johnson to 321 rushing yards in eight games as a senior, he was one of the nation's most productive backs as a junior, rushing for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.
Asked what he has seen from Johnson during his time on the practice squad, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said, "He's been a real attack kind of guy. He hits the line of scrimmage really hard. If you remember from pre-season, the few chances he got, he catches the ball really well, one of the best catchers that we have. He's a physical kid, low to the ground a little bit, a little lower makeup than some of the guys, but he has a really physical style to him that we like."
Heslop, who first signed with the Seahawks in 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of Stony Brook, made his NFL debut last week, playing four snaps on special teams. Both Heslop and Johnson will revert to the practice squad on Tuesday.
