Aug 8, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael (33) carries the ball against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jody Gomez-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks gave rookie running back Christine Michael a heavy workload during the team’s preseason opener on Thursday night as they wanted to check on his stamina and ability to handle the every down pressure of the NFL. If Michael’s first game was a test, he passed with flying colors.

The team’s starter, Marshawn Lynch, played just two downs before Michael entered the game and he carried the ball until the Seahawks’ final drive of the game.

Michael finished the game with 89 yards on 16 carries. At  5.6 yards per carry, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was more than pleased.

“We weren’t going to get frustrated with what happened early, and just (kept) sticking to it,” Carroll said, via the Tacoma News Tribune. “He bounced the ball well outside on his long run – had a couple of nice runs. He’s got a long way to go, but he ran hard, looked quick and made some guys miss. So I think it’s a very good first game for him.”

While Robert Turbin was the team’s leading back up a season ago, it looks like the Seahawks are preparing to rely on Michael as their primary back up.

This was his first shot at showing the coaching staff that he could handle live game action and he convincingly let them know that he was up for the task.