George Holani in Seahawks’ offense? Could happen; new running-back injury
George Holani doing more than scoring touchdowns recovering kickoffs?
That could be the Seahawks’ development on offense at running back behind Kenneth Walker, now that Zach Charbonnet is banged up.
Charbonnet did not practice for the second consecutive day Thursday. That makes him iffy, at least for now, to play Sunday when the Seahawks (1-1) host the New Orleans Saints (0-2) at Lumen Field (1:05 p.m., CBS television, KIRO channel 7 locally).
Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon (bruised medical collateral ligament in his right knee), rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (high-ankle sprain) and Pro Bowl safety Julian Love (hamstring) also did not practice for the second day in a row.
Charbonnet’s and Love’s injuries are new, out of the Pittsburgh game. Wednesday before practice coach Mike Macdonald said without specifying players or the issues “the sky isn’t falling.”
“But, yeah, we got a couple guys working through some things,” Macdonald said, “but nothing crazy.”
The team will issue its official injury report for Sunday’s game on Friday afternoon.
Charbonnet has a new foot injury he apparently got while rushing 15 times for just 10 yards last weekend in Pittsburgh. He played 36 snaps to Walker’s 23 against the Steelers. Yet Walker romped for his eighth career 100-yard rushing game, on two fewer carries than Charbonnet got.
Through two games, Charbonnet has played 66 of Seattle’s 117 offensive snaps. Walker has played 44 snaps. The Seahawks are managing a foot issue Walker has had for the last month and a half.
They’ve been doing it with Charbonnet, the team’s second-round draft pick from UCLA in 2023.
They may do it Sunday with Holani.
He would likely be Walker’s backup against New Orleans if Charbonnet can’t play. The second-year back signed as a rookie free agent last year out of Boise State is the third back with Kenny McIntosh out for the season on injured reserve.
All 33 of Holani’s plays so far this season are on special teams. Last weekend in Pittsburgh his alert sprint and recovery of Jason Myers’ kickoff into the target zone and then the end zone before it crossed the end line for a touchback resulted in a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Holani’s hustle and smarts turned Seattle’s three-point lead into a two-score game in the fourth quarter at Pittsburgh.
“I’ve just been so impressed with George,” offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said following practice Thursday. “Every time he gets an opportunity he makes the most of it.
“All he does is work. He doesn’t talk a whole lot. He’s just about getting better, about improving.”
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM.
