Kenneth Walker out again. Another shot for two Seahawks step-ins to show out in Chicago
The Seahawks will have to keep pushing towards a possible playoff appearance without their lead running back.
The team officially ruled Kenneth Walker out for Seattle’s game Thursday night at the Chicago Bears. He injured his ankle in the second half of the Seahawks’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings three days ago.
Walker missed another practice Christmas Day, before the team left for Chicago in the afternoon.
Zach Charbonnet will again be the team’s fill-in lead rusher against the Bears (4-11). Charbonnet has started three of the last four games for Walker. Walker missed the previous two with a calf injury.
Two games ago, Charbonnet had a career-high 134 yards rushing with two touchdowns in Seattle’s win at Arizona. Thursday will be the seventh start in the NFL for Seattle’s second-round draft choice in 2023 from UCLA. The 23-year-old Charbonnet started two games early this season when Walker was out with an oblique injury, in September.
“To me, it seems like he’s been the same guy since we (got here). That’s one of the things you love about him: He’s the same guy every day,” rookie coach Mike Macdonald said. “Incredibly prepared. Runs the ball tough, runs it hard.
“I think he’s growing as a player and as a person, but that just speaks to his work ethic.”
Walker’s absence means quarterback Geno Smith will likely have Kenny McIntosh as a No.-2 running back again Thursday. The seventh-round pick in last year’s draft has 13 of his 17 career carries the last three games.
“I’m ready,” McIntosh said before these last three games.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said he will not have any limitations on Seattle’s running game plan in Chicago with Walker out and Charbonnet and McIntosh in.
“I don’t think that personnel-wise we should have any limitations. We should be able to keep building those things up front,” Grubb said. “We’re in good shape, so I think you just focus more on the offensive line and maybe less on the runners.”
McIntosh also had a catch and run of 15 yards from Smith late in last weekend’s game against Minnesota, as Seattle’s final rally to tie or win failed.
“It seems like every time he touches the ball, something positive happens, which is good,” Macdonald said. “He’s earned those opportunities and we’ve had conversations like this throughout the season of ‘Hey, stick to your prep, stay steadfast in in your approach, and those opportunities will come your way and take advantage of them.’
“I felt like he’s done that. And it’s kind of a great opportunity to this game to do it again.”
Geno Smith not 100%
Smith will start his second game in four days Thursday night while hurting.
The 34-year-old quarterback said Tuesday the right knee he injured two games ago against Green Bay is not fully healed.
“No, it’s not,” Smith said. “I mean, it’s going to be there for a while.
“But got to keep pushing.”
Smith wore a wrap over the knee last weekend against the Vikings, when he completed 31 of 43 passes for 314 yards, three touchdowns — but also two interceptions and two sacks, including a crushing sack in the final 3 minutes. That sack took Seattle out of makeable field-goal range for kicker Jason Myers to tie the game.
Myers was short from 60 yards on his field-goal try with 1:56 remaining. The Seahawks lost 27-24.
What they are playing for
Actually Thursday night, not a ton.
A win by the Seahawks over the Bears, who have lost nine in a row and haven’t won since Oct. 13, doesn’t by itself help Seattle’s chance to win the NFC West by the end of the first weekend of January.
A Seahawks win would be large if the first-place Los Angeles Rams (9-7) then lose Saturday at home to the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals (7-8) are eliminated. They beat the Rams in week two, 41-10.
A Seattle win and L.A. loss would make the week-18 game between the Seahawks and Rams in Inglewood, California, for the division title.
Both teams winning or both teams losing this weekend would put the strength of victory tiebreaker potentially in play next week. Los Angeles currently has a sizable edge in that over Seattle.
“I think we all understand what situation we’re in. The focus is going to win this football game,” Macdonald said after practice Wednesday, which was later than usual so the players and coaches could spend Christmas morning with family and friends.. “So, do what it takes to do that and go play our best football. That’s what we’re focused on right now.”
This story was originally published December 25, 2024 at 5:36 PM.
