The Seattle Seahawks brought back a pair of familiar faces this week, signing former running backs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin to replace Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise.
While Lynch’s return has garnered the most attention, understandably, Turbin’s reputation as a strong blocker and receiver out of the backfield will make him an appealing replacement for Prosise as the team’s no. 3 back.
More than that, Turbin is a strong locker room presence as a six-year NFL veteran, and his return is a chance to reunite quarterback Russell Wilson with his best friend.
“He was in my wedding,” Wilson said on Thursday. “A guy that I’ve been super close to ever since day one.”
Turbin and Wilson both came to Seattle in their incredible 2012 NFL Draft class, joined by Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin and J.R. Sweezy.
Wilson went in the third round, with Turbin following a round later and joining Wagner as picks out of Utah State. However, despite the relationship with Wagner, Turbin and Wilson took to each other right away.
“I’ll never forget when we had the rookie symposium,” Wilson continued. “It was the first time all of us Seahawks being together and everything. I walked into my hotel room and there was Robert Turbin. He was my roommate. I remember us sitting there listening to oldies and just jamming out and having fun. Talking life, getting to know each other and everything else. Fast forward, we went to the event and everything those couple days or whatever it was. I remember us going to Canton, being in Canton and going to the Hall of Fame and walking around and talking about where we wanted to go and how we wanted to get there. Every day, we’ve always supported each other.”
The two remained teammates from 2012-2014, before Turbin was claimed off waivers by the Browns in September of 2015.
Turbin bounced around in 2015 before spending three years with Indianapolis, where he last played in October of 2018.
While Turbin’s career has not gone quite according to plan, his relationship with Wilson was no doubt a key in his return to the Seahawks, and should help him contribute on game day.
“Our roads have been slightly different, but they’ve been the same,” Wilson said. “We’ve always supported each other and always been together, even when we’re apart. He’s one of my best friends in the world. A guy who works extremely hard. A guy who’s ready to play, excited to play. He’s a guy who’s tough as nails.”
Turbin may not be called upon to do much on Sunday, but his presence should have a positive impact on Wilson’s morale heading into the biggest (and final) game of the regular season.
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