Tuesday will be a key step towards determining if C.J. Prosise returns for the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, in the divisional round of the playoffs.

All season long, the Seattle Seahawks‘ one glaring weakness, was the lack of a decent running game. Thanks to a combination of injuries, Marshawn Lynch‘s retirement and a sub-standard offensive line, they ranked just 25th in the league, averaging 99.4 yards per game.

However, all that changed in the wild card game against the Detroit Lions. Thanks to a franchise playoff-record 161 yards from Thomas Rawls, the Seahawks powered their way to a 26-6 win.

Suddenly, the Seahawks look like their old selves, which must be a worrying sign for the rest of the NFL. Along those lines, Pete Carroll’s team could be set to receive a further boost to the running game.

As reported by Sportspress NW, C.J. Prosise will return to practice on Tuesday. The news was confirmed by Carroll on Monday, during his weekly radio appearance with “Brock & Salk” on 710 ESPN.

Prosise has been out since suffering a fractured scapula on November 26th, against the Philadelphia Eagles. At the time of the injury, he had already rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on only four carries against the Eagles.

The timing couldn’t have been more frustrating for the rookie, who was just beginning to find his feet in the NFL after already dealing with a wrist injury. Just a week earlier, he had rushed for 66 yards against the New England Patriots, while adding another 87 through the air.

In truth, the Seahawks likely won’t know if Prosise will be available to face the Falcons, until later on this week. Along those lines, Tuesday will provide a significant indicator.

Speaking to “Brock & Salk”, Carroll said: “He’s going to practice and we’re going to find out. We don’t know how he’ll respond to the practice, but he is going to go and we’ll see how extensive that will be and we’ll just take it one day at a time and see.”

Given the 22-year old’s receiving skills out of the backfield, he could provide major matchup issues for the Falcons. Carroll appreciates how much he would mean to the team.

Carroll said: “We would love to have him back and we’re ready to go, we’ll have no problem fitting him in and we’ll look forward to that opportunity. But we can’t get distracted by that because we don’t know what’s going to happen by Saturday.”

Of course, after the injury problems the Seahawks have contended with this season, Prosise’s return could be countered by the loss of another member of the backfield. Fullback Marcel Reece is questionable for the Falcons’ clash, after suffering an injury against the Lions.

Carroll said: “He got stepped on and his foot was really sore during the game. They thought maybe he had broken something; he did not. So we’ll just see how he recovers this week.”

The Seahawks’ head coach praised Reece’s blocking in the wild card game, and talked about what he’s meant to the team, since joining them in early December: “He’s really a consistent player, he’s smart, and he has learned over the years how things fit.

“We need to fit on the correct guy so we’ve covered up the right defender, then the running back takes off from there. (Also) he’s a good pass catcher, he moves well, he has good instincts about the passing game.”

Tuesday will represent the first of three practices this week for the Seahawks. Their schedule has been moved up a day, due to playing their divisional round game against the Falcons on Saturday.

What’s your prediction for Prosise – do you expect him to return against the Falcons, or is it too soon? Along with Reece’s potential absence, how much does this matter, in terms of the Seahawks’ chances of defeating the Falcons? Share your thoughts in the comments section.