The Seahawks’ running back room is seriously banged up, leading to a tryout for former Oregon State star Anthony Hankerson this past weekend. Our boys in green and blue took a tough 17-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and it was clear from the sideline absences that the ground game needs a shot in the arm. This isn’t just about a potential practice squad guy; it’s about getting bodies on the field in the Emerald City.
Hankerson Back In The PNW?
This ain’t Hankerson’s first rodeo with the Seahawks, either. Our front office actually gave him a minicamp invite right after the draft, before he ended up signing with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. Turns out, the Dolphins let him go recently, and now he’s back home in the PNW. He transferred to Oregon State in 2024 from Colorado and immediately made an impact. We’re talking back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, something no Beavers back had done since Jacquizz Rodgers! The guy was a bright spot on a brutal Oregon State team, and it’s cool that he effectively replaced former Seahawks draft pick Damien Martinez for them, even if Martinez is now with the Packers. He’s got a Pro Day under his belt, but he skipped the NFL Scouting Combine, which might have dimmed some of the league’s lights on him initially.
Our Running Back Room Is A MASH Unit
Look, the scoreboard told a story against the Cowboys, but the injury report screams a whole different one. The running back depth chart is a mess right now for our Hawks. We didn’t see Jadarian Price OR Emanuel Wilson on the field against Dallas, both out with injuries. And Jacardia Wright? He’s been dealing with a leg injury and couldn’t even suit up for the preseason opener. That left us with George Holani, Velus Jones Jr, T.J. Harden, and Justin Jones carrying the rock against the Cowboys. Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury have to be pulling their hair out trying to figure out who’s going to be healthy enough for practice this week. It’s a real question mark if Price, Wilson, or Wright will be ready for the joint practice or the game against the Tennessee Titans.
So, where does Hankerson fit into all this? Honestly, right now, he’s probably just here to get through August. He’s camp fodder, a body to fill out the roster given the absolute carnage in the running back room. But here’s the thing: with this many guys banged up, a chance to impress for a practice squad spot becomes a real possibility. The team needs healthy bodies, and if he shows something, who knows? We’ll be watching to see if our Hawks make the move and sign him before Monday’s practice. Then it’s on to prepare for the Tennessee Titans, and we need our guys ready to go.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
Leave a Reply