The Kenneth Walker-Zach Charbonnet job share may be ending. Or at least tilting.
Back towards Walker being the lead back.
Coach Mike Macdonald said coming out of Walker slashing past Rams for 62 yards rushing and Charbonnet slamming into those same defenders for just 37 in the Seahawks’ loss at Los Angeles, that Walker deserves more than he’s been getting this season.
“I think Ken’s showing the ability—you know, he’s showing that he’s earning more opportunities to get the ball,” Macdonald said Monday afternoon.
Walker had 16 carries plus three receptions for 44 more yards playing 51% of the offensive snaps Sunday in Inglewood, California.
Charbonnet rushed 11 times and caught two passes for 10 yards, getting 43% of the snaps.
Second-year running back George Holani got two snaps and two carries for 6 yards on first downs on two different Seahawks drives into the red zone at Los Angeles. Seattle failed to score touchdowns on either of those marches inside the Rams’ 20-yard line in the first half. Those eight lost points proved vital in the Seahawks’ two-point loss.
Like he has for his four seasons, Walker showed against the Rams his ability to make defenders miss. He particularly did that when tacklers beat Seattle’s blockers at the snap and were waiting in front of him as soon as Walker got the ball from quarterback Sam Darnold. Walker made multiple first Rams miss to turn what should have been negative yards into gains.
Down 14-9 in the third quarter, Seattle had third and 3 at the Rams 22. Walker was the deep tailback, 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage, with fullback Robbie Ouzts offset to his right. Darnold under center turned back and handed the ball to Walker. L.A.’s Kobie Turner made right guard Anthony Bradford whiff on his lead block with a swim move over him at the snap. That left Turner alone in the backfield, with Walker in front of him 2 yards behind the line.
It appeared Walker would have run up the middle to his left. But he saw the big defensive tackle directly in his face and juked him with an immediate cut to the right. No one was to that side for Walker to run 5 yards for the first down. It could have been a touchdown had Rams safety Kam Curl not grabbed Walker’s foot and tripped him in the open field.
Meanwhile, Charbonnet often ran directly into Rams that penetrated the line, instead of being able to cut around and past them.
With Walker, if it’s not blocked, there’s still a chance. Often with Charbonnet, if it’s not blocke,d the play’s over.
Plus, there’s Walker as a receiver. In the fourth quarter, on a third and one with the Seahawks down 21-12, Darnold threw quickly into the left flat to a wide-open Walker. He ran down the Rams sideline for an 18-yard gain to the L.A. 43. Still down 21-12 with 6 minutes left, Danrold began an 84-yard touchdown drive by throwing a short, check-down pass underneath the Rams’ coverage to Walker. Walker sprinted after the catch past linebacker Nate Landman to single-handedly turn what would have been a 4-yard gain to the Seattle 20 into a 23-yard spark out to midfield.
Walker ended that drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:27 left to get the Seahawks to within 21-19. It was his fourth rushing touchdown this season, and 28th regular-season TD of his career.
“I think you really felt Ken (Sunday),” 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.” Managing Kenneth Walker through the season
Walker has yet to play a full season since 2022 when Seattle with then-coach and top decision-maker Pete Carroll drafted him in the second round out of Michigan State. The following year, the Seahawks drafted Charbonnet from UCLA in the second round.
Walker has played in all 10 games this season. He’s played 284 snaps, 45% of Seattle’s plays on offense. He has 606 yards on 136 carries, an average of 4.5 yards per rush. That’s above his career average of 4.3. He has Seattle’s only 100-yard rushing game by a back this season, in week two at Pittsburgh.
Charbonnet has played 279 snaps in nine games; at 49% he’s above Walker’s playing-time rate. Charbonnet has usually been offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s choice in the red zone and in 2-minute, hurry-up drills. That’s largely why Charbonnet has played more than Walker.
Charbonnet has gained 350 yards on 105 rushes. That 3.3 yards per rush, a yard less than Walker’s getting.
Seahawks coaches have been managing Walker’s use all year. They held him out of offseason practices this spring. In August, he missed parts of training camp with pain in his foot. That issue’s been below the high-ankle sprain he had on the same side last December that put Walker on injured reserve to end his 2024 season. The idea has been to keep Walker preserved enough to get through all 17 games this season.
Walker’s been on board with that plan. He wants, needs, to play in all 17 games. These are his last auditions before his rookie contract ends at the end of this season. He wants to maximize his chances to impress the league, to fetch new money for a new deal for 2026 and beyond.
Whether that’s with Seattle or somewhere else is up to Macdonald and Seahawks general manager John Schneider following this season.
Monday, The News Tribune asked Macdonald if Walker and the team are through their managing his foot pain from the summer.
“Well, we’re not just going to give one of our running backs 100% of the snaps. That’s just not responsible for a whole season,” Macdonald said. “We’re not going that far.
“But to my knowledge (Walker feels) as good as you can feel going into Week 12. I think he’s pretty clean and healthy.”
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