Why Seahawks’ RB job share with Walker, Charbonnet? More than meets the eye
The Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker Preservation Plan is on.
The latest installment worked splendidly for Seattle.
The lead running back hasn’t been getting lead playing time through two games. Walker has played only 44 of his team’s 117 offensive snaps this season. That’s not even 38% of the Seahawks’ plays.
Number-two back Zach Charbonnet has played the majority of Seattle’s offensive snaps so far, 66 snaps in all.
Charbonnet has more carries, 27 to Walker’s 23. Yet Walker has more yards. That includes his eighth career 100-yard rushing day this past weekend. Walker romped through the Steelers for 79 yards in the second half on just eight carries. That included his game-clinching touchdown of 19 yards on third and goal in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s 31-17 win at Pittsburgh.
It’s all by coach Mike Macdonald’s design.
Walker has a foot issue. It is related to the high-ankle sprain injury that ended his 2024 season last December. It sidelined him on and off for much of training camp and the preseason last month.
This is the season of the 24-year-old Walker’s rookie contract Seattle gave him as its second-round draft choice from Michigan State in 2022. Last year was his third consecutive one to begin his career that he hasn’t played a full season injury-free at the sport’s most injured position. He has 15 more regular-season games to earn a job and what every player in the league seeks when they enter it: a second, richer NFL contract.
“With that part, honestly, I just want to be positive and keep my mind on football and not a contract and all that,” he said in training camp.
Yet he doesn’t want to, perhaps can’t afford to, miss a game.
“Every time I touch the ball I’m trying to score,” Walker said Sunday, after he plowed through Pittsburgh.
And the Seahawks need him. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s outside-zone running game, his rushing focus for this season, have planned on Walker being the centerpiece. Now, and into January.
So the team’s medical and athletic-training staffs are working with Madconald, Kubiak and the offensive coaches to pace Walker off Charbonnet through games.
It’s going to be this way Sunday when the Seahawks (1-1) host the New Orleans Saints (0-2).
It may be this way for a while.
“We’re playing the long game,” Macdonald said Monday. “We’re also trying to win games and be the most productive we can possibly be.
“So, it’s a balance. I think we’re hitting right now, and we’ve got to keep going.
“Yeah, with both the guys, we want them to go the whole year.”
Walker sounded while leaving Pittsburgh Sunday as if he’s buying in to a job share deep into the season. It may be his best chance to maximize his opportunities, to play all 17 games.
“Yeah,” Walker said, “I believe you’ve got two good backs. ‘Charb’s’ a great back. I feel like I’m a good back, as well.”
As for the talk Charbonnet may be the lead back by workload, Walker said: “That’s expected. That comes with it.”
“You just can’t really listen to the noise outside,” he said.
“You know, we’re brothers at the end of the day.”
Contract considerations
There’s a second factor within Seattle’s running-back job share, beyond Walker’s foot.
The Seahawks are deciding between now and January whether to re-sign Walker,. They haven’t done that yet because they’d love to see if he can finish a full season without missing a game.
Meanwhile Seattle has Charbonnet, 24, under contract for one more season beyond this one. He was the team’s second-round pick out of UCLA the year after the Seahawks drafted Walker. The coaches would like to see how Charbonnet performs in this new offense on lead-back carries. They are seeking an idea of what he might look like as RB1 next year, should they choose that route.
Charbonnet is already the primary running back for 2-minute drills. That’s where many of his added snaps over Walker have come through the first two games.
“I’m pleased with how we’re rotating the guys,” Macdonald said. “It’s hard to project with how the games are going to play out. I think we’re going into games with a certain plan, and then you got to let the day kind of dictate to itself.
“But also we’re playing the long game, as well.
“It’s kind of like coaches and personnel want guys for this year, and then it’s the organization’s job to ensure the future of the team, as well.”
Zach Charbonnet at Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, Charbonnet had what Walker had the week before against San Francisco: Nowhere to run.
While Walker had the offensive line smashing Steelers, particularly left tackle Charles Cross and rookie left guard Grey Zabel, for 105 yards on just 13 carries, Charbonnet rushed 15 times for 10 yards. That’s hard to do.
Charbonnet has 57 yards on 27 carries (2.1 yards per carry) through two games.
“We need both backs to be effective, great backs for us. And I think they both are playing at high level,” Macdonald said.
“With Zach’s game (in Pittsburgh), I know that productivity wasn’t what he expects, but frankly, there just wasn’t a lot of opportunities for him.”
Charbonnet did run into the line to get a piece of blitzing Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen pn a timely pass block in the first quarter. That allowed quarterback Sam Darnold the time to throw to Tory Horton across the middle for the rookie wide receiver’s first NFL catch and touchdown to end the game’s first drive Sunday.
“I think the opportunities were there for Ken. Ken had a great game and happy for him. But Charbs played a good football game,” Macdonald said. “He played a really good football game and helped us win, played winning football.
“Just the yards weren’t there (against the Steelers).”
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 3:00 AM.
