The Seattle Seahawks finished the season as the top team in the NFC and received a first-round bye because of it. They took advantage of their week off and dominated the 49ers in their divisional round matchup, but the win came at a cost.
During their divisional round win, the Seahawks saw their running back Zach Charbonnet go down with a knee injury, and he didn’t return. Although fellow running back Kenneth Walker picked up the load and had a huge game, the loss of Charbonnet will be felt going forward.
Charbonnet’s Impact:
Dec 26, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs after a catch against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
Charbonnet had nearly 900 scrimmage yards this season for Seattle and scored 12 touchdowns. When Kenneth Walker struggled midseason, it was Charbonnet who stepped up and helped keep the run game relevant.
Being able to lean on two different running backs is what made the Seahawks offense so dominant at times this season. Now, in their biggest game of the season to date, they will be down to just one back, who will be asked to carry the entire load.
The Pressure is on Walker:
Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) defends during the first half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
The Seahawks ranked 10th in the NFL in rushing yards this season. Yet, Kenneth Walker didn’t have a single game all season in which he carried the ball 20 or more times.
The ability to mix and match Charbonnet and Walker kept both players fresh, relatively healthy, and allowed them to both perform at the highest level.
Jan 3, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) rushes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
In the divisional round win, Walker tied his season high in carries with 19, a number he hadn’t reached since the first month of the season.
Now, heading into the NFC Championship against the Rams, Walker will be asked to do more than he has all season long, at a time when the wear and tear of the regular season is at an all-time high.
Walker’s backup, Velus Jones, has carried the ball just 10 times this season, and six of those carries came in last week’s win. He totaled just 10 yards on those six carries, so to expect anything from him this weekend would be foolish.
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