The Seattle Seahawks had just crossed the corner in anticipation of hitting the last stretch in the 2019 season when Murphy’s law hit the ball carrier position. Rashaad Penny and Chris Carson both had fantastic performances in the team’s week 13 win over the Minnesota Vikings, only to see injuries derail their season in the weeks ahead.
Carson, the starter, fell in week 16 with a hip injury which landed him in the injured reserve, while Penny had unfortunately found his way to the IR earlier in the month following a ACL torn and “additional damage” to the knee. The team never went out and announced exactly what the additional damage was, however, given that about half of all ACL tears in the NFL associated damage to the meniscus and given the rehab schedule. Penny, it’s not a bad assumption that a damaged meniscus could have been at least part of the additional damage.
In any case, with recruits slated to show up for training next week and veterans the following week, Penny posted another rehab video on social media on Sunday. It is obviously impossible to say how far he is in his rehab, but there is no doubt that he is progressing.
Lots of encouraging signs from #Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny, his ACL rehabilitation in this video he posted on Instagram today as training camp approaches. Work on a pointed ladder, balance exercises and a few cuts too.
(Video via pennyhndrxx / IG): pic.twitter.com/bocDRU0ZvT
– Ben Arthur (enbenyarthur) July 12, 2020
There seems to be a slight difference in the burst and the speed between the two legs, but the progress since his work video by the pool in the spring is indisputable.
In this video, there is an immediately noticeable difference between the two legs, while in the most recent video, the difference is much less pronounced. This, of course, is to be expected given the two months of rehabilitation in between, and is a good sign for his continued progress and the team’s ability to count on him to contribute later in the season.
The team has long since stated that it expects Penny to start the season on the list of physically unable to perform, and with Carson and Carlos Hyde ready to handle the load as the team’s ball carrier in the meantime, there is no rush. In any case, it is a sign that the Seahawks could have a talented ball carrier group in the second half of the 2020 season once Penny returns, although it remains to be seen how many fans fans will actually have.
