Following the Seattle Seahawks' 17-16 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday in Kansas City, Pete Carroll provided some clarity on where the team's running back situation stands.

Christine Michael rushed seven times for 44 yards (6.3 YPC) on the first two offensive drives. He has had a good camp, and the coaching staff seems to view Michael as a contributor.

"He’s an NFL football player," Carroll told reporters. "He really has made it clear to us that he’s serious about the work. He’s serious about the consistency. He’s taken great pride in the way he’s brought it day in and day out all throughout the offseason and into camp and all of that. And he’s an explosive, dynamic athlete. So we’re just going to keep going with him."

Thomas Rawls (ankle) returned to practice last week but did not play in the game. Carroll has not yet decided whether Rawls will see any action in the preseason.

"When Thomas gets back out there, those two guys give you a little one-two punch that we’re excited about," Carroll said. "And then we’ll see. C.J. [Prosise] is going to come back this week. We’ll see where he fits into it also. I thought Christine did really well. I really liked what he did."

Christine Michael found daylight Saturday in Kansas City, rushing for 44 yards on seven carries to propel himself into the Seahawks' backfield picture. Peter Aiken/Getty Images

The Seahawks drafted Prosise with the intention of having him be the third-down back, but Prosise has not practiced since injuring his hamstring on the first day of training camp. Fifth-round pick Alex Collins should also make the roster. He carried just three times for 5 yards Saturday, but one was a botched zone-read attempt where he didn't have a chance.

In 2014, when Marshawn Lynch was healthy, he accounted for 72 percent (280 carries) of the attempts by Seahawks running backs. In 2013, that number was 74.9 percent (301 carries).

But with the variables in play now, it's possible that the Seahawks don't give as heavy a workload to their lead back. Rawls was great last season, totaling 830 yards and averaging 5.65 YPC, but he has to prove he's the same guy physically as he comes off offseason ankle surgery.

And Michael has to continue to prove to the coaches that he's had an awakening.

The Seahawks traded Michael to the Dallas Cowboys for a seventh-round pick last September, but he was released in November. Michael landed on the Washington Redskins' practice squad before returning to the Seahawks down the stretch. Plenty can change between now and the opener, but Michael appears to have put himself in position to have a role in the backfield in 2016.