The Seahawks’ search for help at running back hit a wall this week, and Mike Macdonald wasn’t interested in making a bigger deal out of it than necessary.
Seattle tried to bring in former Bengals and Texans back Joe Mixon ahead of Week 5, but the move unraveled on Tuesday when the two-time Pro Bowler failed his physical. On Wednesday, Macdonald addressed the failed signing and kept his comments brief.
“It just didn't work out,” Macdonald said. “That's probably the most we should say about it with respect to the process. Those things happen and it's just part of the process.”
The setback leaves Seattle to keep patching together the position for now. Zach Charbonnet is still working back from a torn ACL, while rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price remains on injured reserve because of a chest injury. For the moment, Emanuel Wilson and George Holani are the backs expected to carry the load until the injured players return.
Charbonnet has at least taken a step forward, having recently returned to practice. He is expected back in the next few weeks, though he has already been ruled out for Week 5.
Seattle has also tried to get creative under new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who has added some wrinkles to the backfield to squeeze more explosiveness out of the offense. On Sunday, that included a toss play with wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed lined up at running back, and he finished it with a touchdown.
The Seahawks enter Sunday’s game against the 4-0 San Francisco 49ers needing everyone available. It’s a huge NFC West matchup, and Seattle can jump into first place in the division with a win at home. Macdonald, though, made it clear he wanted the conversation to move on quickly and back to the week ahead.
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