In his first NFL start, C.J. Prosise found himself heavily involved in his team's 31-24 win over the New England Patriots this past Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, and the Seahawks running back's offensive production from that game has him up for Rookie of the Week at NFL.com.
Prosise, who Seattle took in the third round of the 2016 draft out of Notre Dame, totaled 153 yards from scrimmage during the team's Week 10 win, leading the club in both rushing and receiving. With starter Christine Michael suffering a hamstring setback in practice late last week, Prosise took advantage of his increased opportunity. He played 77 percent of the team's offensive snaps and racked up a season-high 66 yards on the ground on 17 carries (3.9-yard average), also hauling in each of his seven targets from quarterback Russell Wilson for 87 yards, another a season-high.
"I think what stands out the most is the variety of things that he did, that he looked good at," Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said during his Monday afternoon press conference of Prosise's performance. "He ran the ball inside, he ran the ball outside, he caught the ball well in the short passing game to make some first downs and he caught the big ball down the sidelines. He got smacked on the catch and held on to it, just like the receiver that he has in his background. I think it was the variety of things he was able to do for us. He's been a good pass protector guy in the limited work that he's had. He picked up one of the calls, got him on the defensive end, outside guy. He didn't hold up as well as we would have liked, but I think he's going to be okay there, too, in time. He's very versatile and I was excited to see that."
Prosise endured a wrist injury in the Seahawks' regular-season opener that forced him to sit out four straight games early in the year. He returned to work in limited fashion against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7 before breaking out for 103 total yards, 23 rushing and 80 receiving, against the New Orleans Saints in Week 8. What stood out to Seahawks players and coaches from Prosise's workload this past weekend was the toughness the 6-foot-1, 220-pound back displayed as he finished off runs.
"He's tough, he's really tough," Carroll said. "I love the ball he catches one right up the sidelines and he's got a chance to step out of bounds or whatever and he laid wood to a guy. Our guys really respect that. He was trying to make every inch he could. He had a couple really good finishes, he got smacked a couple times, too. He got surprised by a couple hits and bounced right back up, so he showed a really good mentality about it. He had a ball playing. His attitude during the game and after the game in the locker room and on the way home, he really enjoyed the heck out of it. It's a good sign."
Prosise finds himself up against four other first-year players for the weekly honor, including the Dallas Cowboys duo of quarterback Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, as well as Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who the Seahawks will face this Sunday at CenturyLink Field. Fans can vote right here through 12 p.m. PT on Friday, November 18 to determine the winner.
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See some of the action from Sunday Night Football, Seahawks at Patriots during Week 10 at Gillette Stadium.
