Positive sign for Seahawks’ run game: Kenneth Walker practices 4 days before Lions game
Another key Seahawks starter back from injury to practice.
One day after every-down outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu practiced for the first time in a month off of a sprained knee, lead running back Kenneth Walker joined the starting offense at the beginning of practice Thursday.
It appeared to be Walker’s most extensive work since he injured his oblique Sept. 8 at the end of his 103-yard rushing day leading Seattle to its opening win over Denver.
He also practiced on a limited basis Friday, before he missed the Seahawks’ win over the Miami Dolphins.
The Seahawks listed him as a limited participant in his first practice participation report of the week Thursday.
Walker was in cleats, helmet and shells like his teammates. He smiled during stretching to begin the practice. It’s the most positive sign yet for the first-place Seahawks (3-0) they will have Walker playing at the Detroit Lions (2-1) Monday night (5:15 p.m., channel 4).
Walker, who played college football at Michigan State an hour and half along Interstate 96 from Detroit, has missed the last two games. That’s the same number of games he missed last November with an oblique injury before he returned.
Second-year back Zach Charbonnet started Seattle’s overtime win at New England and the team’s victory over Miami last week. Charbonnet had 38 yards on 14 rushes against the Patriots and 91 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns against the Dolphins.
What have the Seahawks missed without Walker the last two games?
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb chuckled at that.
“I mean, he’s pretty explosive,” Grubb said.
“In the open space, obviously, that’s where Ken is really, really dangerous. He’s extremely difficult to get a hand on. And he’s strong.
“So I think sometimes there are guys who are scat backs who get out in open space and you put a hand on them and they might go down very quickly. But Ken is very unique in that he can create and generate that space, then when he gets into that space he is very difficult to bring down.”
3 of 4 starting linebackers missing
A day after Nwosu practiced, he did not on Thursday. Wednesday had been his first practice since Aug. 24 when Cleveland guard Wyatt Teller cut blocked him and sprained the medial collateral ligament in Nwosu’s knee.
Three of the Seahawks’ four starting linebackers missed the latest practice.
Weakside linebacker Jerome Baker remained sidelined by a hamstring injury that kept him out last weekend against his former Dolphins. Rookie fourth-round pick Tyrice Knight and special-teams mainstay Drake Thomas split Baker’s position against Miami.
Outside linebacker Boye Mafe’s knee issue that kept him out of practices last week sidelined him Thursday. Mafe played against Miami and had a sack in his third consecutive game. He and Derick Hall share the team lead with three sacks through three weeks.
Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy status
Defensive end Leonard Williams missed practice. He injured his ribs in the first quarter last weekend.
Rookie defensive tackle and first-round draft choice Byron Murphy missed practice. He injured his hamstring in the second quarter of the Miami game.
Of the two, signs are Murphy may miss a game or two.
A consideration on Williams and Murphy — and on all injured players as this week continues: The Seahawks play three games in 10 days starting Monday night in Detroit. They come home on a short week for a Sunday home game against the New York Giants next week. Then after that, they play in four days, at home against San Francisco in their first division game of the season. That’s Oct. 10.
Right guard switch?
Rookie third-round pick Christian Haynes was the starting right guard in practice Thursday — because Anthony Bradford missed practice. He has a knee issue.
Braford missed one play of the opener with a banged knee, the returned to finish that game three weeks ago.
He has started the first three games. He has six penalties and given up multiple sacks plus a safety so far this season. He is the second-most penalized player in the NFL. He has twice as many flags as wide receiver DK Metcalf, cornerback Devon Witherspoon or any other Seahawk.
Haynes played one series in each half in week two at New England. The Seahawks drove to a touchdown in Haynes’ only drive in the first half replacing Bradford.
Bradford, Seattle’s draft choice last year, played the entire game last weekend against Miami. He allowed a sack. He had a holding penalty. He was penalized for a false start.
“Anthony, he’d probably tell you he didn’t have his best game,” Grubb said. “I think he’s a young player still, that hopefully is still continuing to develop. We think he has a very good skill set. And there are some other things that are still coming along in his game, and we are still trying to develop that.”
Haynes started 49 games at right guard for the University of Connecuticut through last season.
As for Haynes playing more now, Grubb said the Seahawks are looking for “just, technique and power. I think just raw power at the guard position in the NFL is so critical, and that’s why Anthony can withstand a lot in there. His sheer size and what he can take on on the inside.
“For Christian, it’s not getting overpowered and overwhelmed.”
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 3:56 PM.
