NFC West Notebook: Replacing Rawls a daunting task for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks have survived - and thrived - despite injuries to star running back Marshawn Lynch and tight end Jimmy Graham. Whether Seattle can withstand the loss of Thomas Rawls is another matter.

The notion that an undrafted free agent could emerge as one of the most indispensable players on the Seahawks seemed laughable entering the season, but Rawls had been just that until suffering a broken ankle in Sunday's 35-6 win at Baltimore.

While quarterback Russell Wilson is in the midst of one of the finest stretches in NFL history during Seattle's current four-game winning streak, Rawls has been equally instrumental in helping the Seahawks recover from a 4-5 start.

Not only did Rawls put up some staggering numbers of his own - 391 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a three-game stretch before he was hurt - but his ability to seamlessly mesh into an offense built around the power running of Lynch enabled the Seahawks to stick with the blueprint that led to consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

Now the question for Seattle is whether Lynch can return from abdominal surgery and, if he does, can he supply the same production as Rawls? Called "Mini Beast Mode" for a smash-mouth running style similar to that of Lynch, Rawls had four 100-yard games in his first six starts.

"He went through a big surgery," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Lynch at his media briefing on Monday. "He's got a lot to get through, and he's got to get past that, whatever impact that's had. He's got to get back into shape and get going. It'll have been, we're at three weeks from his surgery (Nov. 25) and he hasn't been able to go yet very hard.

"He's going to have to work through that and get himself going again, and come back and show that he's back and ready to go," Carroll added.

There is no timetable for the return of Lynch, who will continue his rehabilitation away from the team. Meanwhile, Seattle re-signed running back Bryce Brown for the third time since October and will add him to a committee that includes recent signee DuJuan Harris and fullback Derrick Coleman. 

"We have a balance and a philosophy and an approach that doesn't have to be changed right now," Carroll said Monday. "We'll see how it goes, but right now we are going to stay on course and continue to push our approach and see that if we can keep it on a really good track."

Cardinals' Freeney effective --€“ and cost-effective

Dwight Freeney was sitting at home in October when he got a call from the Arizona Cardinals, who were looking for pass-rushing help after outside linebacker Alex Okafor suffered a calf injury.

The two sides quickly came to an agreement, giving Freeney a chance to further a stellar career that saw the seven-time Pro Bowl selection rack up 107 1/2 sacks in 11 years with Indianapolis before spending the past two seasons with San Diego.

"Dwight was champing at the bit to get off the couch, and we knew from watching the tape that he still had the ability to apply pressure," Arizona general manager Steve Keim told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Monday. 

Freeney had 3 1/2 sacks with the Chargers last season, but he has already topped that total with a team-high four for the Cardinals. He made No. 4 memorable by forcing a fumble by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with five seconds to play on Thursday night, securing a 23-20 victory and a playoff berth for Arizona.

"That's why I came back, because moments like this, you can't duplicate those in life," Freeney told reporters after the game. "To be able to have this type of dream situation, fourth quarter, game on the line, it's kind of like ninth inning, two outs ... for a defensive lineman, and I was able to make a play."

The Cardinals signed Freeney to a one-year minimum of $870,000 plus incentives. The 35-year-old triggered a $200,000 bonus with the sack of Bridgewater, which Keim chalked up to a sound business decision.

"I was thinking that was the best $200,000 we've ever spent," Keim said. "He's a guy we're going to count on down the stretch. If there are any concerns, it is that ability to apply pressure without manufacturing and bringing the blitz. ... Dwight Freeney is a guy that can do it for us."