Kenneth Walker won’t be away for long.
It remains to be seen whether he will play this weekend.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday that Seattle’s leading rusher and touchdown scorer is “day to day” for the Seahawks’ first-place game Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field (5:20 p.m. KING-5 television).
Walker underwent tests Monday on his injured calf, to give Seattle’s training and medical staff more clarity on the pain that caused him to miss the team’s win last weekend in Arizona.
“It became more and more complicated as the week went on. That’s why we had to do more tests and all that. But for now, there are positive signs.
“So we’ll just say day to day, I think it’s fair.”
Maconald said of Walker’s expected absence: “It’s not long-term.”
The coach said, “I’d like to see” Walker practice this week before he can play, but that’s not a prerequisite for him to play against the Packers.
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) takes the field as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) holds on during the first quarter of the game at Lumen Field on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. Brian Hayes/[email protected].
All of this means that Zach Charbonnet remains a possibility to start again for Seattle on Sunday against the Packers.
Charbonnet had a career day replacing Walker in the lead role last weekend against the Cardinals. that of Seattle 2023 second-round draft pick rushed for a career-high 134 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns. This is the most rushing yards for the Seahawks since October 23, 2022, when as a second-round rookie, Walker rushed for 167 yards in a victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs for a touchdown against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (24) during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on December 8, 2024. Michael Chow/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK
Macdonald, quarterback Geno Smith and Seattle linemen thanked offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb for sticking to the game plan he laid out earlier in the week to move the ball, especially to the inside tackles, against Arizona, even after the Seahawks knew Walker wasn’t going to make it. play.
Charbonnet also caught a team-high seven passes for 59 yards in Arizona. This included a 20-yard screen pass and run in the first quarter. He outran a block by wide receiver DK Metcalf down the sideline that flattened Cardinals safety Budda Baker on Charbonnet’s gain inside the Arizona 25-yard line.
Macdonald said Monday, the day after Walker’s absence Seattle victory against Arizonathat Walker was undergoing more medical tests “as we speak.”
The team listed Walker as having ankle/calf injuries during the last week of practice and the game which Walker missed.
“It’s definitely his calf at this point. It’s not his ankle,” Macdonald said.
The Seahawks (8-5) lead the NFC West by one game over the Los Angeles Rams (7-6) with four games remaining. The Seahawks and Rams play in Inglewood, California in the final game of the regular season on the first weekend in January.
Walker missed his third of 13 games this season Sunday at Arizona. It was his seventh missed game in 47 possible starts during his three-year NFL career, at the most injured position in the sport with the shortest careers on average. Walker missed two games in September with an oblique issue.
He had been listed as questionable to play Friday before the Arizona game due to injuries he suffered while rushing 16 times for 49 yards on Dec. 1. Seattle victory against the New York Jets. Then on Saturday, the Seahawks declared him out for the game.
