Tag: Charbonnet

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III in line for ‘more opportunities’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kenneth Walker III is 18th in the NFL in carries and narrowly within the top 20 in rushing yards (606), but the Seattle Seahawks are closer to turning him loose.

Walker played 51% of the offensive snaps in a 21-19 loss to the Rams on Sunday with Zach Charbonnet working in behind him. But he’s about to get the ball a lot more.

“I think you really felt Ken,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “And just, even in the pass game, too, on check-downs, finding him late in the play. Just shows you that he’s such an explosive player with the ball in his hands.

“And he knows there’s things that he needs to clean up in his game, too. And he’s done a great job doing that. And we’ll continue to do that. But I think Ken’s showing that he deserves more opportunities.”

Those opportunities are picking up at the right time for projected production.

Walker faces the 26th-ranked Titans’ run defense on Sunday and three of the bottom 11 against the run in Seattle’s next three games. The Seahawks play the Vikings (22nd, 127 rushing yards per game) and Falcons (28th, 138.5 rushing yards per game) after a visit to Nashville this weekend.

Walker had 19 touches (three receptions) in the loss at Los Angeles but Macdonald’s review pointed to a takeaway about resetting the pecking order in the backfield.

Walker leads the Seahawks with 136 carries for 606 yards. He has four touchdowns to Charbonnet’s six (105 carries for 350 yards).

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) during warmups before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III (ankle) out vs. Bears

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the host Chicago Bears due to an ankle injury.

Walker returned from a two-game absence due to an ailing calf on Sunday before injuring his ankle in the Seahawks’ 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Zach Charbonnet is set to shoulder the load in the backfield for the Seahawks (8-7), who have lost two in a row heading into Thursday’s game against the Bears (4-11).

Seattle is in a must-win situation. Even if the Seahawks can top Chicago and beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18, they still might miss out on the postseason because of the strength-of-victory tiebreaker.

Walker, 24, leads Seattle in carries (153) and rushing yards (573) to go along with seven rushing touchdowns.

Charbonnet, 23, has a team-best eight rushing touchdowns to go along with 106 carries for 453 yards.

The Seahawks also ruled out tight end Brady Russell (foot) and safety K’Von Wallace (ankle) for Thursday’s game.

The Bears will be without defensive backs Elijah Hicks (ankle/foot) and Tarvarius Moore (knee), running back Travis Homer (hamstring) and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (calf).

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs away from San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) for a second quarter touchdown run during a wild card game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks RBs Zach Charbonnet, Kenneth Walker III out with injuries

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Seattle Seahawks will be without their projected top two running backs for some time.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters Sunday that rookie running back Zach Charbonnet is out “indefinitely” with a shoulder injury, and No. 1 back Kenneth Walker III is currently considered week-to-week with a groin injury.

Walker was an early-second round draft pick in 2022 after a breakout college season at Michigan State. He was the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year after gaining 1,050 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) for Seattle.

“He doesn’t feel bad. It’s not a terrible injury or anything like that,” Carroll said of Walker. “We just don’t want to aggravate it now and make it something that lingers through camp.”

The Seahawks drafted Charbonnet in the second round of the 2023 draft and the expectation was the UCLA product would complement Walker.

Charbonnet gained 3,346 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns across four seasons at Michigan (2019-20) and UCLA, with career highs of 1,359 yards and 14 scores in 2022.

Carroll did not have a timetable for Charbonnet’s return.

Seattle activated tight end Noah Fant off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Sunday, but other Seahawks players who remain on the list include three key defensive starters — Pro Bowl cornerback Tariq Woolen (knee), safety Jamal Adams (quadricep) and inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks (knee).

–Field Level Media