Seahawks running back Chris Carson retires from NFL due to neck injury

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson is retiring from the NFL due to a neck injury, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. He spent five years in the league, all of which came with the Seahawks.

Seattle will reportedly release Carson with a failed physical designation. That will qualify the running back to receive several million dollars in injury protection benefits, which would not be the case if he went on the retired list.

A seventh round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Carson would go on to carve out a starting role for himself as a rookie, but had his season cut short due to an ankle injury. He returned to form the following year to rush for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns as one of the more productive running backs in the league. He picked up where he left off the next year in 2019, rushing for a career-high 1,230 yards and seven scores.

Still, injuries would continue to plague Carson over the next couple of seasons. He missed some time due to a foot injury in 2020 and then suffered the neck injury he is currently dealing with in Week 4 this past season. Carson originally said he would continue to fight his way back from the injury and be ready for 2022, but has still yet to be cleared.

Carson was a three-star recruit and the No. 104 overall running back in the 2013 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He went on to play two seasons at Butler Community College before transferring to Oklahoma State in 2015. He went on to play two seasons for the Cowboys, compiling 1,076 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns in the process.

With the retirement of Chris Carson, the Seahawks now face the task of finding his replacement. Rashaad Penny is currently listed at No. 1 on the depth chart, and Seattle also has rookie second round pick Kenneth Walker III. The Seahawks will open up the 2022 season on Sept. 12 against the Denver Broncos.