What's next for the Seahawks now that Rawls is out for the season?

SEATTLE - Can the Seahawks pull another running back out of the hat?

Thomas Rawls, who filled in so well in place of the injured Marshawn Lynch that he'd put himself in contention for rookie of the year honors, was knocked out for the rest of the season after a first-quarter run in Sunday's 35-6 win over Baltimore.

Rawls broke his ankle and tore several ligaments, coach Pete Carroll said.

With Lynch likely out for the rest of the regular season following abdominal surgery, the Seahawks suddenly find themselves with a gaping hole at what has traditionally been one of their strongest positions.

The team's options are thin. DuJuan Harris took the bulk of the carries after Rawls left the game, rushing 18 times for 42 yards - and suffering a killer fumble deep in Baltimore's red zone.

Fred Jackson, who had seven carries for 15 yards, is another option. But Carroll implied in his postgame press conference that the Hawks could look at free agents to fill the job.

Rawls was likely on his way to a 1,000 yard season. He played in 12 games, rushing 141 times for 786 yards and four touchdowns. When he left the game Sunday, he already had six carries for 44 yards.

Seattle has three games left in the season - home games against Cleveland and St. Louis, followed by the finale in Arizona.