An opportunity to build on a strong finish to last season. An opportunity to carve out a larger role in Seattle\u2019s new offense. An opportunity to propel his career forward after missing most of his 2023 rookie season with an injury and then earning limited snaps for most of 2024.<\/p>\n
But just four days into camp, McIntosh\u2019s 2025 season likely ended before it ever began. McIntosh went down with a torn ACL during Saturday\u2019s practice and was placed on injured reserve<\/a> Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously really unfortunate,\u201d Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. \u201cWe love Kenny. \u2026 What he needs from us is our support, our prayers. It\u2019s gonna be a tough road, but he\u2019s the man for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet in the next-man-up world of the NFL, McIntosh\u2019s injury provides an opportunity for others. And in this case, that means rookie seventh-round pick Damien Martinez and second-year pro George Holani \u2013 who are now the top two contenders for Seattle\u2019s third running back spot behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a closer look at both Martinez and Holani.<\/p>\n Damien Martinez<\/p>\n Martinez, who was expected to give McIntosh a tough battle for the RB3 spot, is now the front-runner for that role.<\/p>\n The 6-foot, 217-pound Martinez is a tough, physical, tackle-breaking back who rushed for a combined 3,169 yards, 6.2 yards per carry and 26 touchdowns over his standout three-year college career.<\/p>\n Martinez spent his first two seasons at Oregon State, where he ran for a combined 2,167 yards and 16 TDs in 2022 and 2023. That included a big performance against the UW Huskies in 2023, when he totaled 167 scrimmage yards and two TDs in the driving rain while nearly leading the Beavers to an upset over the eventual national runners-up.<\/p>\n Martinez then transferred to Miami, where he had another productive season in 2024. He ran for 1,002 yards and 10 TDs with the Hurricanes, while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He also had 17 catches for 204 yards.<\/p>\n Martinez averaged 4.46 yards after contact per attempt last season, according to Pro Football Focus<\/a>. That was the third-best mark among all FBS running backs who had at least 150 carries, trailing only\u00a0No. 6 overall draft pick Ashton Jeanty of Boise State (5.25) and fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten of Virginia Tech (4.47).<\/p>\n DAMIEN MARTINEZ REFUSED TO GO DOWN \ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/modTDodFg4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n Yet while he\u2019s known for his ability to bulldoze through defenders, Martinez also has decent speed for his size. He ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine earlier this year, which was middle of the pack among running backs.<\/p>\n Macdonald said Martinez had his best day of camp on Monday, which was the first day the Seahawks were allowed to practice with pads.<\/p>\n \u201cI think today was his best day he\u2019s had,\u201d Macdonald said. \u201c\u2026 I had a feeling that he would show up a little bit more with the pads, so hopefully that trend continues.\u201d<\/p>\n George Holani<\/p>\n Holani likely would have had a difficult path to a roster spot prior to McIntosh\u2019s injury. But now, he moves one slot up the depth chart and figures to be Martinez\u2019s biggest competition for the third running back spot.<\/p>\n Last year, as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State, Holani compiled a strong preseason that had him flirting with a 53-man roster spot. He rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in Seattle\u2019s three preseason games and gave McIntosh a tight battle for the RB3 spot before ultimately landing on the practice squad.<\/p>\n The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Holani appeared in five total games for the Seahawks last season, with most of his action coming on 36 special teams snaps. He finished with three carries for 10 yards \u2013 with all three carries coming in Seattle\u2019s Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n The @Seahawks<\/a> capitalize with another TD and extend the lead!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf1: Stream #SEAvsLAC<\/a> on #NFLPlus<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/KTNJar5RDy<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n Like Martinez, Holani had a productive college career. He rushed 3,596 yards and 26 touchdowns over five seasons at Boise State, including a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns in 2019 and 2022. Holani actually was ahead of Jeanty on Boise State\u2019s depth chart in 2022, serving as the Broncos\u2019 lead back that season. Holani then spent 2023 as Jeanty\u2019s backup.<\/p>\n Holani\u2019s special teams experience \u2013 both with the Seahawks and Boise State \u2013 could help his case for a roster spot.<\/p>\n \u201cWe love the guys we have, so that\u2019s a positive,\u201d Macdonald said when asked about Seattle\u2019s running back depth in the wake of McIntosh\u2019s injury. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to say you\u2019re deep at any position at any given point, because you know how fast these things can happen. But Damien had a good today. George has been doing a great job. So we\u2019re excited about those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n More on the Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Huard: Woolen can benefit from Griffin\u2019s return to Seattle Seahawks<\/a>
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\u2022\u00a0Stacy Rost: Seattle Seahawks have their most QB depth in a long time<\/a><\/p>\n
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