The Buffalo Bills continue to shuffle their roster.
This time they traded away running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle Seahawks for undisclosed draft picks.
All of this is coming a week after releasing quarterback Trent Edwards.
Buffalo began the season with three running backs –Lynch, Fred Jackson, and rookie C.J. Spiller—all of whom have seen action this season.
Lynch has played the most out of the three running backs this year, starting in three of four games and leading the team with 164 rushing yards on 37 carries.
Despite utilizing Lynch more than both Jackson and Spiller, Bills general manager Buddy Nix believes it was the right move to make for his team.
“Marshawn has worked hard and played hard for us this season and we certainly appreciate his efforts,” said Nix to buffalobills.com. “We are constantly evaluating our personnel and feel that this is a good move for our team’s future.”
He said this despite reiterating in the off-season the team’s intentions to not trade the 24-year-old.
The 2007 first-round draft pick hit the 1,000 yard mark in each of his first two seasons, but legal problems and a three-game suspension last year limited his playing time with the Bills.
He’ll now be looking for a fresh start with a team that ranks 27th in the league in rushing yards per game (79.5).
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll believes the 5-foot-11, 215-pound tailback will help fill a void the Seahawks have been missing to this point of the season.
“We bring a guy into the program that we think is going to give us a little boost,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said after practice Tuesday. “You know that we’ve emphasized trying to get this running game in order. We hope that he’ll help in that regard.
“It’s good we’re on a break. It doesn’t disrupt a game week preparation and we’ll get him in here as soon as possible and we’ll get to work.”
The Seahawks released their leading rusher the past two years, Julius Jones, to clear space for the California Golden Bears alumni.
The moves will give Spiller more carries.
The 9th overall pick in 2010 will be expected to shoulder more of the load as part of the ongoing rebuilding process currently underway. He’ll share ball-carrying duties with Jackson, who surprisingly led the Bills with 1,062 yards last season.
Lynch finishes his stint with the Bills with 2,765 yards and 17 touchdowns in 45 games.