Seattle Seahawks

Michael back as lead back with Seahawks after series of detours

Published Dec. 21, 2015 3:32 a.m. ET

foxsports

Christine Michael may have finally landed the lead running back role for the Seattle Seahawks. He needed three teams to give up on him to get there.

Traded away by the Seahawks in early September, Michael made his way back to the team that drafted him in 2013 and rushed for 84 yards as Seattle wrapped up a playoff berth with a 30-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns on sunday.

Michael was re-signed by Seattle on Wednesday following an injury to rookie Thomas Rawls and was expected to see time as part of a committee with new signee Bryce Brown and fullback Derrick Coleman. Instead, he wound up with a team-high 16 carries - one more than he had in five games with the Dallas Cowboys.

"Our running backs, Christine Michael did a great job of stepping in and being able to prove that he’s a valuable player," Seahawks wideout Jerome Kearse said. "He’s valuable to us and he ran the ball really well. He ran the ball really hard too.”

Michael was considered an elite talent coming out of Texas A&M whose production never matched his physical skills. He was unable to supplant Marshawn Lynch and found himself traded to Dallas when Rawls emerged during training camp. He was cut loose by the Cowboys in November and signed with Washington, which also jettisoned him after a brief stop.

“You never know what is going on in somebody’s head," Seattle safety Earl Thomas said. "Just to see him adjust and overcome and have the right mentality. Any other guy would get cut and would have some hard feelings. But he’s a grown man. He’s a pro, he’s turning into a pro. I’m just excited for his success.

With Lynch still recuperating from abdominal surgery and Rawls done for the season, Michael could be the feature back after nearly doubling the amount of carries by Brown, who is in his third stint with the Seahawks this season.

"First off it’s a blessing," Michael said. "The ultimate thing is just being a part of this team. The guys that drafted me, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here. It was a great team win.”