After being released by his former team the Buffalo Bills earlier this week, the Seattle Seahawks have snatched running back Fred Jackson off of the market after having been connected to signing him this past week. The deal is for one year.
Jackson has played his entire NFL career in Buffalo for the Bills before the release earlier this week. The Seahawks brought him in for a physical right after the Bills cut him and just finalized the deal Friday evening.
The 34-year-old is coming off one of his worst seasons in 2014 after averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, which was a career-low. In the past few years, it was a struggle for Jackson to get consistent carries as he was injured a bit and had to split carries with C.J. Spiller. After the Bills traded for LeSean McCoy, the Bills decided to go in a different direction with his release.
When current Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was in Buffalo playing for the Bills, Jackson and Lynch became close friends and formed a formidable 1-2 punch.
Jackson is a very good pass blocker and that was a big reason for the signing as the Seahawks could use some more protection on passing downs for quarterback Russell Wilson. This is a great situation for Jackson as he can play in a run-first offense, while not being asked to be the number one back.
There always has to be a domino fall when a signing like this is made, which could make it tough for the Seahawks to keep both Christine Michael and Thomas Rawls. Rawls has impressed this preseason and is in contention for one of the final roster spots. Robert Turbin has also had a fantastic preseason, but got banged up with a sprained ankle. Turbin's role will most likely take a hit with this signing.
There was some question to whether Jackson's career would continue after being cut, but he has found a good situation in Seattle where he will get on the field a good amount, but still in a role that he can handle as the second man.