Seahawks RB Penny practices after 12-month absence
Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny was back on the practice field Wednesday, one year and one day after tearing the ACL in his left knee.
Penny has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of training camp.
“We’re really excited to get him back on the field with us,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said prior to practice. “It’s just been a long haul. It’s very meaningful for him to get back out there. You really want to see him bang his breaks and really get down and hit it and give good tempo in practice. I’ve said it the whole time, the last thing we’re going to do is rush the timing of this.”
Penny was a 2018 first-round pick by the Seahawks out of San Diego State. He has rushed for 789 yards and five touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 158 yards and one score in 24 NFL games.
Penny rushed for 370 yards last season prior to the major injury suffered against the Los Angeles Rams. He sported an impressive 5.3 average per carry.
Cornerback Quinton Dunbar (knee) also was back on the practice field after a four-game absence. Carroll appears to be leaning toward sticking with D.J. Reed as the starter for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
“We’ll take it one day at a time,” Carroll said. “I’m really thrilled that he’s back; he’s worked really hard to get back out here, but we’ve got to see in practice and see him work and see where he is.
“D.J did a really nice job for us again last week, and we feel very comfortable there, so we don’t have to rush Quinton back out. So we’re going to hopefully bring him back in the right pace so that he can really be strong and ready to finish the season with us.”
Also, receiver Josh Gordon cleared COVID-19 protocols and is allowed in Seattle’s facility.
Gordon has been conditionally reinstated from his latest substance-abuse suspension but isn’t eligible to practice until after the Week 15 game against the Washington Football Team. He would be eligible to play in Week 16 against the Rams.
–Field Level Media
