Chris Carson

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson will reportedly retire from the NFL due to a neck injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"SEA will officially release him with a failed physical designation," Rapoport wrote. "Under the CBA, that allows Carson to receive several million in injury protection benefits. Seattle does right by him."

The 27-year-old had spent his entire five-year career in Seattle after being selected in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Oklahoma State. In 49 career games, Carson rushed for 3,502 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also caught 107 passes for 804 yards and seven scores.

Carson appeared in just four games during his 2017 rookie season before fracturing his leg. He went on to have back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard rushing seasons in 2018 and 2019. He rushed for 1,151 yards and nine scores in 2018 and 1,230 yards and seven scores in 2019.

Carson's production dropped off in 2020 as he rushed for 681 yards and five scores. He then appeared in just four games during the 2021 campaign, rushing for 232 yards and three scores, before undergoing season-ending neck surgery.

Last month, Carson told told Jonathan Adams of Heavy.com that he did not have a timeline to return from his neck surgery and that he didn't have plans to retire.

"Oh, we still going right now," Carson said. "I see myself playing until I feel like stopping. My mindset is never to give up. So, I'm staying positive like I said, and continue to fight and get back onto the field."

With Carson now set to retire, the Seahawks can rely on Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas at running back. Penny led the team in rushing last season with 749 yards and six touchdowns.

Walker was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Michigan State. He had a breakout 2021 campaign with the Spartans, rushing for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns in 12 games.

Dallas, meanwhile, has spent the last two seasons in Seattle. He rushed for 138 yards and two scores in 2021.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson will have season-ending surgery for a neck injury that has sidelined him for all but this year's first four weeks.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Carson's neck "never improved enough for him to get back on the field."

The loss of Carson was a difficult one for a team that played without quarterback Russell Wilson for three-plus games after the signal-caller suffered mallet-finger tendon damage, a dislocation and two fractures in his right middle finger in Week 5. Seattle's offense has struggled, ranking No. 22 in points per game.

The running back was at his best in 2018 and 2019 when he tallied more than 1,100 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons. He appeared in 12 games last year and posted 681 rushing yards, 287 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns.

Carson followed with 261 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns this year.

Seattle will miss Carson's presence when sidelined. In his absence, Alex Collins should be the No. 1 running back in the meantime, with Rashaad Penny serving as the backup.

The 3-6 Seahawks' next game is home at Lumen Field against the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was asked at his Friday press conference if running back Chris Carson—currently on injured reserve with a neck injury and out until at least Week 10—would be able to return this season.  

His answer wasn't promising.

"I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for him that he gets a chance to come back and play," Carroll told reporters.

ESPN's Brady Henderson noted that Carson isn't practicing because of "neck discomfort."

Carson, 27, hasn't played since Oct. 3. In four games this season, he's rushed for 232 yards and three scores. 

In the offseason, the Seahawks signed him to a three-year, $24.6 million contract (the third year was voided, however, essentially making it a two-year year, $10.4 million pact). The veteran running back rushed for over 1,100 yards in each of the 2018 and '19 campaigns, but he was limited to 12 games last season because of a foot injury. 

Nonetheless, he still accumulated 968 yards from scrimmage and nine scores, further cementing himself as a key part of Seattle's offense alongside Russell Wilson, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. 

But the Seahawks are currently without both Carson and Wilson and have dropped to 2-5 on the season. In a loaded NFC—five teams in the conference have just one loss—Seattle's playoff hopes already appear to be extinguished. 

The Seahawks play the Jacksonville Jaguars this week before a Week 9 bye, which could set up a Week 10 return for Carson, though Carroll's comments Friday make that feel unlikely. Following its bye, the team has back-to-back matchups against the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals, two of the top teams in the NFL this season (both 7-1). 

If the Seahawks lose those, their playoff hopes will be all but dead. In what could be a lost season, it might not make much sense for Carson to return at all and risk further injury. 

The Seattle Seahawks announced Friday (h/t NFL Network's Ian Rapoport) that veteran running back Chris Carson was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. 

The 27-year-old missed Seattle's Week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Rams due to the injury and will now miss at least the next three games. He's eligible to return November 14 against the Green Bay Packers. 

With Carson sidelined, veteran Alex Collins is expected to be Seattle's lead running back on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Seahawks also have DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer available. 

With that in mind, here's a look at the top waiver-wire running back options for fantasy managers. Every running back suggested is rostered in 40 percent or fewer of Yahoo Sports fantasy football leagues.

Seattle Seahawks RB Alex Collins (37% rostered)

Collins is the obvious choice to replace Carson as he's his real-life backup. In four games this season, the 27-year-old has rushed for 124 yards and one touchdown and caught four passes for 59 yards. 

However, the Steelers have allowed only one rushing touchdown this season, so Collins will undoubtedly have his work cut out for him on Sunday. Things also won't be easy for Collins because he'll have to deal with a Steelers defense that includes T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and Devin Bush. 

Still, Collins has also been on the more efficient side during his career, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt (4.4 yards per attempt in 2021) in five seasons. That efficiency should pay off this weekend, with the Steelers allowing four yards per carry this year. 

Houston Texans RB Mark Ingram II (30% rostered)

Three-time Pro Bowl running back Mark Ingram II would also be a solid waiver-wire addition heading into Sunday. The 31-year-old is serving as the Houston Texans' top running back and has been solid through five games. 

Ingram has 68 carries for a team-high 212 yards and a touchdown this season. Houston has rushed the ball 128 times this year and he's handled 53.1 percent of those attempts. 

The Texans are slated to face the Indianapolis Colts this weekend, who are allowing 108.4 yards per game on the ground, the NFL's 14th-ranked rush defense. With Ingram handling the majority of duties in the backfield, he's a solid replacement for Carson. 

Washington Football Team RB J.D. McKissic (40% rostered)

While J.D. McKissic isn't listed as the Washington Football Team's top running back, he's proved to be a valuable asset this season. And with Antonio Gibson questionable for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McKissic could end up seeing more time on the field. 

The 28-year-old has rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries this season and caught 13 passes for 150 yards and a score. 

McKissic is averaging just 3.2 yards per attempt this season, though the Chiefs have the NFL's third-worst rushing defense, allowing 141 yards per game on the ground and 5.2 yards per attempt. 

McKissic has been more effective in the passing game, but Kansas City also has the league's third-worst passing defense, allowing 296.4 passing yards per game.

McKissic could prove to be a solid pickup, especially with Gibson's status up in the air. 

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson has been placed on injured reserve, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The 27-year-old missed the Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams with a neck injury. He had been held out of practice the day before but still was hopeful that he would be able to play, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Unfortunately, Carson will now miss three games at a minimum. He's eligible to return on Nov. 14 against the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Russell Wilson (right middle finger injury) also went on IR Friday and cannot come back until the Packers game.

Through four games in 2021, the Oklahoma State product has 54 carries for 232 rushing yards and three scores in addition to six receptions for 29 receiving yards.

Carson entered the league in 2017 as a seventh-round draft pick by Seattle. He grew to become a key member of its offense, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019.

The Biloxi, Mississippi, native suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss four weeks in the 2020 season. He finished last year with 681 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 12 games and added four receiving scores. He signed a two-year, $10.4 million extension in the offseason.

With Carson sidelined, Alex Collins has stepped up as Seattle's starting running back. He had 72 yards on 17 touches in his first start in Week 5 against the Rams and has 183 scrimmage yards and one touchdown for the season.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said the neck injury that caused running back Chris Carson to miss Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams is a longstanding issue.

Carroll, who described Carson's status as "day-to-day," told reporters Friday the team's leading rusher wasn't injured on a specific play:

He's got an old injury that you can see [in medical exams]. It's kind of, I don't know if it's chronic, but it occasionally pops up. It hasn't been an issue in the past. He didn't get hit and that's how he got hurt. It's a condition he's got probably from weightlifting and all of the stuff he's done over the years. It could have been something a long time ago. It's just flared up some, so we're being real careful with him. He was too uncomfortable to play.

It's unclear whether Carson will be available for the Hawks' Week 6 road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 17.

Alex Collins took over as Seattle's lead back against the Rams. He tallied 15 carries for 47 yards (3.1 YPC) along with two catches for 25 yards. DeeJay Dallas (four carries) and Travis Homer (one) also got some opportunities in the team's backfield.

Carroll said the team would probably continue to fill the void from within if Carson remains sidelined for awhile.

Along with Collins, Dallas and Homer, the Seahawks can activate Rashaad Penny from injured reserve after Week 6 and could also promote rookie Josh Johnson from the practice squad in a pinch.

"We'll look forward to getting Rashaad back," Carroll said. "He'll be back in a couple weeks. That'll be a big boost to us when we get him. The guys are doing what they can. I thought DeeJay did a nice job [Thursday] night coming off the bench, and Alex has been doing a solid job now at the one spot."

Carson has been one of the NFL's best running backs when healthy, highlighted by back-to-back seasons over 1,100 yards rushing in 2018 and 2019, but injuries have been a factor throughout his career, which began as a seventh-round pick in 2017.

Counting Thursday, the 27-year-old Oklahoma State product has missed 20 of a possible 69 regular-season games for the Seahawks.

The uncertainty about Carson's short-term availability paired with the finger injury suffered by quarterback Russell Wilson on Thursday, which ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported will sideline the signal-caller for four-to-eight weeks, creates major question marks for the Seattle offense. 

Backup quarterback Geno Smith is expected to take over the unit beginning against the Steelers.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson has been ruled out of Thursday night's crucial NFC West showdown with the Los Angeles Rams due to a neck injury, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

Carson, 26, emerged as a reliable part of Seattle's offense in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, exceeding 1,100 yards on the ground in each campaign. 

But 2020 was a struggle. Injuries limited him to just 12 games and 681 rushing yards and five touchdowns, though he did add 37 receptions for 287 yards and another four scores. A fractured hip ended his season in December.

But it was clear the Seahawks had unearthed a keeper in Carson, and the sides agreed to a two-year, $10.4 million extension in the offseason. 

"It was the team that gave my first shot in the league, so I felt like it was the right decision," he told reporters in May. "... It was definitely difficult, the whole process. Teams made offers, there were definitely some teams that made it tough to sign with the Seahawks, but it was just the right feel. I prayed about it, me and my family talked about it, and we knew Seattle was the right fit."

Carson is a key part of Seattle's offense. While he's out, look for Alex Collins to serve as the team's starter.