Seahawks ‘Counting On’ RB Kenneth Walker In NFC Championship Game

Although the Seattle Seahawks will have home-field advantage against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, they’re dealing with a disadvantageous situation at running back, with Zach Charbonnet out for the season after tearing his ACL last week.

Charbonnet rushed for 730 yards this season, and his 12 rushing scores ranked No. 6 in the NFL. With Charbonnet out, the Seahawks will look for Kenneth Walker III to carry the load.

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker Could Make A Major Impact Vs. Rams

Walker has had a stellar 2025 season in his own right, rushing for 1,027 yards during the regular season while scoring five touchdowns, along with 36 receptions for 282 yards. Walker is coming off a dominant performance in the divisional round, rushing for 119 yards on 19 carries with three rushing touchdowns. Walker and 2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander are the only players in Seahawks franchise history to have three or more touchdowns in a playoff game.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak shared his strong belief in Walker’s ability to have a successful showing against the Rams, even if there’s an increased workload with Charbonnet out.

“The proof is on the film,” Kubiak said on Thursday. “He’s played some really good football, and, you know, we have all the confidence in the world in him to carry a heavier load. But it’s not on him, and he’s got help behind him. But we’re, obviously, you know, counting on him.”

Kenneth Walker Can Alleviate Pressure on Seahawks QB Sam Darnold

Counting on Walker is all the more important when factoring in Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold’s struggles against the Rams in recent years. In Darnold’s last three games against Los Angeles, he has thrown for three touchdowns and eight interceptions and has been sacked 13 times.

Ball security issues were a problem for Darnold throughout the regular season, with his 20 turnovers leading the league. A good way to take pressure off Darnold’s shoulders is to put the ball into the hands of Walker and let him dash and gash the Rams. Walker has 275 yards from scrimmage in two games against the Rams this year.

Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald Highlights Walker’s Perseverance

Walker, now in his fourth NFL season, had a challenging offseason. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald spoke of Walker’s resilience while dealing with an injury before the regular season.

“I know he was working through his foot at the beginning, over the course of the offseason and that was frustrating for him because of the amount of work that he was putting in,” Macdonald said. “And I think hopefully he realizes the dividends that that’s paid, that work that he’s put in to really get himself in a good spot up to this point, because what I’ve seen, I’ve seen a guy that’s, he’s gotten better throughout the season, so you can’t say that about all runners. And so that’s a tribute to him and how he’s taken care of his body.”

With Charbonnet sidelined and the Rams likely focused on pressuring Sam Darnold, Walker’s performance could determine whether Seattle reaches the Super Bowl. If he can control the tempo and time of possession by churning out first downs on the ground and keeping Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford on the sideline, the Seahawks’ path to the Super Bowl becomes much clearer.